Fibroids are benign (noncancerous) tumors of smooth muscle cells and fibrous connective tissue that develops from abnormal muscle cells in the uterus and multiplies rapidly when encountering the estrogen hormone. Fibroids are connected to many severe health problems, including fertility and pregnancy problems, anaemia, anxiety and depression, and are inversely related to prolonged estrogen exposure and diabetes.
Fibroids can affect fertility in many ways, but not all women with fibroids will become infertile. The size and location of the fibroids determines whether they impact fertility, e.g. fibroids that are inside the uterine cavity (submucosal) or very large fibroids ( more than 6 cm in diameter) within the wall of the uterus (intramural). Fibroids can impact fertility by:
Fibroids are found in 2% to 12% of pregnant women, but not all fibroids get larger or cause pregnancy complications. Fibroids can:
Excessive blood loss from heavier menstrual bleeding brought by uterine fibroids or surgeries to remove the tumors can result in excess loss of hemoglobin, causing a depletion of oxygen in the body. The deficiency in this iron-rich protein found in red blood cells is known as iron deficiency anemia. Anemia itself can lead to other health problems such as pregnancy complications, heart murmurs, irregular heartbeats, and even heart failure.
The pain and other symptoms from uterine fibroids can lead to decreased quality of life. Research has documented a higher incident of anxiety and depression among women with fibroids. This association between fibroids and mental health was highest among women experiencing pain-related uterine symptoms. Some of the contributing factors include:
While it is often speculated that insulin plays a role in fibroid development, research suggests that though black women have higher levels of insulin resistance and are also disproportionately affected by fibroids, insulin resistance does NOT appear to impact the development of fibroids. Fibroid prevalence does increases with Body Mass Index (BMI), but the impact of BMI on fibroids appears to be independent of insulin resistance. In a nutshell, High BMI = Insulin Resistance, High BMI = fibroids, however, Insulin Resistance ≠ fibroids.
This 5-ingredient wellness shots is packed with powerful antioxidants, anti-inflammatory b...
This 5-ingredient wellness shots is packed with powerful antioxidants, anti-inflammatory b...
This simple recipe is easy to make and takes under 30 minutes, making it a perfect fall or...