
UTERINE FIBROIDS
DON'T HAVE TO KEEP U DOWN

WHAT ARE THEY?

KINDS OF FIBROIDS
There are basically four major types of uterine fibroids:
Intramural fibroids, which grow within the muscular uterine wall.
Submucosal fibroids, which bulge and can extend into the uterine cavity.
Pedunculated fibroids can be inside or outside of the uterus and are attached to the uterus by a base or stalk.
Subserosal fibroids extend outside of the uterine wall.
WHO GETS THEM
5 factors that could increase your probability
1. Fibroid frequency
Uterine fibroids become more common as women age, with the frequency increasing during the 30s and 40s, and up through menopause.
2. It may be the DNA
Having a family member with fibroids increases your risk. In fact, if your mother had fibroids, your risk is about 3x higher than average.2
3. Ethnicity
For reasons not yet understood, African-American women are 5x more likely to develop fibroids than white, Asian and Hispanic women.1
4. Watch the weight
Women who are overweight are at higher risk for fibroids. If you are obese, the risk can be two or three times greater than average.2
5. You are what you eat?
Next time skip the steak and maybe order the chicken. Eating a lot of red meat has been linked with a higher risk of fibroids.2
References
- Khan AT, Shehmar M, Gupta JK. Uterine fibroids: current perspectives. Int J Women’s Health. 2014 Jan 29;6:95-114. (referenced form BSC website: https://www.bostonscientific.com/en-US/patients/health-conditions/uterine-fibroids-and-polyps.html
- Women’s Health.Gov . Uterine Fibroids. Accessed July, 2017. (https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/uterine-fibroids)