my mother. I did anatomy as part of my Biology class: no mention of fibroids and definitely not mentioned in the few Health Education classes I had in my all-girls school. Is it a wonder that I was ignorant of the symptoms? My periods were heavy but I thought that was normal.
Research shows that the more early knowledge and awareness young people have about their health, the lower the risk of serious health complaints later in life
So, what are fibroids and why can they be a problem for women?
Fibroids or uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb (uterus). Their growth is controlled by estrogen and progesterone, two hormones that regulate a woman’s menstrual cycle.
Some women experience little or no symptoms of fibroids growth.
There are, however, women who experience symptoms such as:
- period pain,
- heavy and prolonged bleeding
- constipation
- pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse
On the rare occasion, women can experience:
- complications during pregnancy
- infertility
The earlier conversations start, the better.
It would have made such a difference if I had conversations about fibroids with my mother. I would have ‘joined the dots’ and been able to seek medical advice earlier. For some young women, the symptoms may be minimal and this