Fibroids After Menopause
Fibroids are small benign tumors that grow on the outside, inside or within the smooth muscles of the uterine wall and are actually quite common. About 30% of women have encountered larger fibroids at some point in their lives; these are the type which cause symptoms to occur where otherwise you might never know you’d had them. While the fibroids themselves aren’t generally cancerous, they can in rare cases grow to be so. This is because they feed on estrogen produced by the body. If the fibroids remain small, there usually isn’t anything to be concerned about. A fibroid that grows quickly however, is a warning sign that it has become cancerous. When a woman has rapidly growing fibroids after menopause, the risk for developing cancer goes from 1 in a 1,000 to 1 in a hundred. This is why post menopausal women need to be especially diligent about seeing their doctor and notifying them of such changes. What are the Signs of Fibroids After Menopause? · Pain: This is usually something like intense menstrual cramps, which are often more noticeable during sexual intercourse. Lower back pain and constipation may also occur depending on the placement of the tumor as it presses down on other organs. · Pelvic Pressure: As the fibroid grows in size it can leave you feeling as if there is pressure in the pelvic area. You may even be able to feel a hard spot through the skin when you examine the area. This happens because larger fibroids distort the shape of the uterus and it can press on organs near the uterus as well. · Frequent/Difficult Urination: This is usually brought on by the larger type which presses on the bladder. · Abdominal Bloat: Your abdomen feels bloated much like shortly before a menstrual cycle begins. How are Fibroids Treated? Often women who’ve had higher levels of estrogen during their lives (those who’ve had no children or pregnancies, who started menstruating at an early age or who dealt with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) or who have had some sort of injury and therefore scaring in the uterus are more likely to experience fibroids in their reproductive cycle. Many doctors will suggest that if nothing overt happens to indicate these fibroids are a health threat, the best thing to do is to wait until menopause is over. This is because most tumors that grow in the uterus rely on estrogen for their growth and as menopause decreases the amount of estrogen in the body, these tumors generally shrink and go away. Even after menopause, most cases only require an evaluation and monitoring from your doctor. If the fibroids are determined to be a threat, surgery may be recommended and in more severe cases, a hysterectomy could be deemed necessary. Cancer is less likely in these cases but it is a possibility, especially after menopause when estrogen levels are lower and fibroid tumors should ideally not be able to grow. Being clear about your gynecological health is necessary at this point in your life. Hormone levels also warrant your attention. See your doctor regularly and stay healthy. |