Fibroids a killer in our midst

Fibroids is now among the major causes infertility amongst adolescent women in my community.Adolescent women start experiencing monthly periods as early as 15years and with servere cramps,which continue over the years.Picture a young girl in class bending down in class with her hands on her tummy and her face a clear indication of the pain she is going through.After her periods the pain stops and sometimes she has abnormal varginal bleeding.These later in life develop be very fatal.And if a woman is unable to give birth in her matrimonial home she is shunned away and viewed as a lesser woman.The traditional medication that the women go for in my community doesn't seem to work at all.

Most women with uterine fibroids have no symptoms.

However, abnormal uterine bleeding is the most common symptom of a fibroid. If the tumors are near the uterine lining, or interfere with the blood flow to the lining, they can cause heavy periods, painful periods, prolonged periods or spotting between menses. Women with excessive bleeding due to fibroids may develop iron deficiency anemia. Uterine fibroids that are deteriorating can sometimes cause severe, localized pain.

Fibroids can also cause a number of symptoms depending on their size, location within the uterus, and how close they are to adjacent pelvic organs. Large fibroids can cause:

pressure,
pelvic pain,
pressure on the bladder with frequent or even obstructed urination, and
pressure on the rectum with pain during defecation.

However, abnormal uterine bleeding is the most common symptom of a fibroid. If the tumors are near the uterine lining, o
It isnt clear why women develop these tumors. Genetic abnormalities, alterations in growth factor (proteins formed in the body that direct the rate and extent of cell proliferation) expression, abnormalities in the vascular (blood vessel) system, and tissue response to injury have all been suggested to play a role in the development of fibroid.

Family history is a key factor, since there is often a history of fibroids developing in women of the same family. Race also appears to play a role. Women of African descent are two to three times more likely to develop fibroids than women of other races. Women of African ancestry also develop fibroids at a younger age and may have symptoms from fibroids in their 20s, in contrast to Caucasian women with fibroids, in whom symptoms typically occur during the 30s and 40s. Pregnancy and taking oral contraceptives both decrease the likelihood that fibroids will develop. Fibroids have not been observed in girls who have not reached puberty, but adolescent girls may rarely develop fibroids. Other factors that researchers have associated with an increased risk of developing fibroids include having the first menstrual period (menarche) prior to age 10, consumption of alcohol (particularly beer), uterine infections, and elevated blood pressure (hypertension).

Estrogen tends to stimulate the growth of fibroids in many cases. During the first trimester of pregnancy, up to 30% of fibroid will enlarge and then shrink after the birth. In general, fibroids tend to shrink after menopause, but postmenopausal hormone therapy may cause symptoms to persist.(Medical Author:
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD)
HENCE MY FELLOW LADIES JOIN ME TO DRUM UP SUPPORT SO THAT THE GOVERNMENTS CAN ALSO CARRYOUT OUTREACH HEALTH TALK PROGRAMS TO THE WOMEN AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL...TO HELP ALLEVIATE THE IGNORANCE SURROUNDING FIBROID.