Mind you ─ fibroids now common in young girls

Unlike in the past, uterine fibroid has become is now common among younger women and not older women alone, a gynaecologist, Dr Fred Achem, has warned.

The president of the Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria (SOGON) described uterine fibroids as non-cancerous growths of the uterus and the muscles of the womb often appear during child-bearing years.

“We have not found an exclusive reason why some wombs grow and other wombs don’t grow fibroids.

“But it is known that those who have fibroids are usually those who have to delay in getting their first babies; those who have their babies between 18 years and 25 years  don’t seem to have fibroids that early.

“And over the years this has not been the trend, there has been a bit of a change, we are beginning to see fibroids earlier in women,” he told NAN.

Achem said although a lot of fibroids did not show symptoms, the more severe ones gave signs such as heavy and irregular menstruation and a visible lump in the abdomen.

“A lot of them may not show at all and a lot of women may never know that they have fibroids; these are the friendly fibroids.

“They are gradually growing quietly and slowly in the womb; they don’t hinder conception; they do not manifest as the others do.

“So a lot of times you do a caesarean operation and see fibroids in the womb.  A lot of them are without symptoms.

“The common way they present is usually heavy periods, suddenly the periods begin to last longer and begin to get heavier than they used to be and they are changing more often than they ought to change.

“Such masses are not likely to be felt until the womb is the size of a three-month old pregnancy, so if the fibroids are less than that size, you may never show a mass in the abdomen.”

He explained that some fibroids caused pain in pregnant women.

The gynaecologist said although fibroids were not supposed to cause infertility, some women found it difficult to get pregnant because the growths positioned themselves in a way that blocked the fallopian tube.

He advised single ladies to have children before undergoing surgery for the removal of the fibroids.

“In the younger people, the first thing to address is the low blood level, with blood transfusion or blood tablets; this can help build the blood back, then they can go and have their children,” he said.