For women, there are many different ways in which hormonal health affects their well-being, from reproductive health to energy levels to mood to menstrual cycles. However, numerous women suffer from symptoms associated with hormonal imbalance without knowing the cause of the imbalance.
When left untreated, uterine fibroids can greatly affect a woman’s quality of life and are one of the most common non-cancerous growths of women during their reproductive years. Fibroids can cause heavy bleeding, discomfort in the pelvis, bloating, and frequent urination, among other symptoms.
By understanding more about hormonal health and the development of fibroids, women can better identify symptoms sooner and make decisions about their health care.
Understanding Fibroids
Fibroids are benign tumors that grow in or on the uterus. They can be large, small, and numerous, or they may be spotty and appear in just a few places. Fibroids can be very small in size and cause no symptoms in some women, but in other women, they may be larger and cause symptoms of impaired reproductive health and interfere with daily life.
Fibroids are very common and are more active in the reproductive age when hormones are more active. Fibroids are not cancerous, but they can cause discomfort and stress to many women.
Symptoms That Should Not Be Ignored
The symptoms of fibroids may be different depending on the size and location of the growths. Some have symptoms that are quite mild, and others may have symptoms that are uncomfortable and last for many years.
One of the most frequent causes of fibroids is heavy menstrual periods. This sometimes results in blood loss over time, causing a person to become tired or anemic. Other symptoms include pressure in the pelvis, backache, bloating, constipation, pain in sex life, or more frequent micturition.
The symptoms of fibroids can be subtle, which is why women may not consider them a sign of fibroids but rather a normal menstrual problem.
How Fibroids and Hormones are Linked
Estrogen and progesterone hormones are thought to affect fibroid growth. These hormones play a role in controlling the menstrual cycle and reproductive system, but can also cause fibroids to develop and grow.
Fibroids tend to increase during times of high hormone levels, and can decrease after menopause when hormone levels are lower. The exact cause of fibroids is still being studied, though there are several factors in lifestyle, hormones, genetics, and family history that are associated with an increased risk.
Some women with a hormonal imbalance find symptoms that get worse as fibroids grow. Knowing about these links can help women be aware of when they are experiencing chronic symptoms that may require medical support.
Treatment Options
Treatment for fibroids is based on the severity of symptoms, size of fibroids, future plans for pregnancy, and health status.
- Medications that lower estrogen levels effectively shrink the fibroids.
- Minimally invasive procedures like Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) block the blood supply to the fibroids, causing them to shrink.
- Surgical options include Myomectomy or Hysterectomy, which is the surgical removal of the fibroids while leaving the uterus intact. This is the preferred surgical option for women who wish to preserve their fertility.