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Fibroids
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Uterine Fibroids are very common in women of Afro-Caribbean origin and especially in women who have never been pregnant. The womb (uterus) forms part of the female reproductive system. The inside lining of the womb is called the Endometrium and the outer wall is made up of a thick layer of muscle called the Myometrium. It is within the Myometrium that uterine fibroids can form. Most fibroids grow within the muscle wall but some grow inwards appearing inside the womb, where a baby normally forms. It is not known what causes fibroids but they stop growing and actually shrink after menopause. They grow in response to a hormone produced by the ovaries called oestrogen. After the menopause the ovaries no longer produce oestrogen in large amounts and the fibroids no longer grow. During pregnancy, when the body has a lot of oestrogen, fibroids tend to grow. They usually do not cause the mother and baby any serious problems but some fibroids in pregnancy can increase the possibility of miscarriage or the baby being born prematurely. Some women suffer severe abdominal pain as the baby shows and may need to be admitted into hospital until the pain subsides. Analgesia (painkiller) is usually given until the pain subsides. Symptoms of Fibroids
What should you do if you think you have fibroids?
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