During you childbearing years smooth muscle cells may begin to grown in your uterus. These growths are often called uterine fibroids, but they are also called fibromyomas, leimyomas or myomas. This isn’t cancer, and the growths are not malignant. They are still tumors though, and they are quite common, especially for African-Americans. Most women who have them do not realize they have them. They sometimes shrink after menopause, and they rare for women under twenty.

Depending on where in the uterus the growth is located, it may be given different names. It is possible for fibroids to grow either inside or outside of the uterus. If the growth is in the uterine cavity it is referred to as a submucous fibroid. Any growths on the outer wall of the uterus are called subserous fibroids. Sometimes the growths can become so enlarged that they can be located both inside and outside the uterine cavity, in which case they may be classified into both groups.

It would seem that fibroids growth is related to levels of the hormone estrogen. As fibroids are larger during pregnancy and in young adults when the estrogen levels would be quite high and tend to shrink down after menopause when estrogen levels drop considerably. While it is good to have a starting point to think about the development of fibroids, the complete cause of fibroids is not known at this time.

One alternative theory relates the causes of fibroids includes to environmental toxins. Some toxins can cause reactions in the body similar to the effects of estrogen, and this may cause fibroids to grow rapidly. This can occur even in post-menopausal women.

Uterine fibroids are not always harmless. They can cause pain, excess bleeding, and complications during pregnancy. In some cases they may even lead to infertility. The most commonly seen symptom of fibroids is heavy bleeding during menstruation. Large fibroids interfere with organs such as the bowels and bladder, causing pain and pressure. In some cases, large fibroids add so much pressure that it causes infertility by compressing the uterus into miscarriage and triggering spasms.

Doctors look for fibroids during a routine pelvic exam, though they may also want to check with an ultrasound. Once they have found them, the typical treatment is a prescription drug that can lower estrogen levels. These prescriptions can prevent a pregnancy in addition to other negative side effects. If the fibroid is too large to treat that way, causing severe bleeding and pain, a doctor may recommend a myomectomy or embolization. A myomectomy simply means they go in and remove it surgically. In a uterine artery embolization, they cut off the blood supply to the fibroid. The worst case scenario, obviously, is a full hysterectomy, but in rare cases it is necessary.

Hysterectomies are a permanent fix to problematic fibroids. However, as with any surgical procedure there are risks to be considered. Once this step is taken it cannot be reversed. There can be danger in damaging nearby organs and structures during surgery or fibroid growth post-hysterectomy in the space left behind or on any pieces of uterus remaining. Your health is affected for the rest of your life as hormone therapy is needed to correct the lack from your uterus.

While surgery can be a scary thought, it isn’t the only option. There are now more natural solutions to fibroids. FibroidClear is an herbal supplement. If taken regularly it can help reduce the size of fibroids and decrease swelling in the uterine cavity by helping regulate hormone levels. You can also use body cleansing techniques to flush the toxins from your body that aid in fibroid growth. These cleansing techniques are also useful to speed up the affects of the herbal supplements so are often done together.

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