6 Major Causes of Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids, also known as leiomyomata, are benign tumors that originate and grow within the uterus. Although uterine fibroids are not malignant tumors, they can have a significant influence on your daily life.
If you believe you have a fibroid, you are not alone. The National Institutes of Health estimates that by the age of 50, up to 80% of women develop fibroids. Fibroids rarely cause symptoms, and you may be unaware that you have them.
Although doctors can’t specify a single cause of uterine fibroids, many believe that multiple factors influence fibroid growth and development.
It’s critical to investigate the origins of fibroids because certain risk factors are under your control — and others are not. So, let’s read this insightful blog right now.
Cause #1 – Genetic Changes
One of the must-have uterine fibroids causes is genetic changes in women. Research in The American Journal of Human Genetics found that women with fibroids had three times more of the enzyme fatty acid synthase (FAS) in their samples.
A genetic tendency to uterine fibroids exists, and if your mother or sister has one, you are more likely to get one, too.
Cause #2 – Pregnancy
Uterine fibroids frequently don’t prevent a person from getting pregnant. However, as submucosal fibroids are linked to the uterine lining and might result in excessive bleeding, they may cause infertility or miscarriage.
Preterm delivery, fetal growth restriction, and placental abruption are among the pregnancy issues that uterine fibroids may raise the chance of experiencing.
Cause #3 – Post-Menopause
The majority of women with uterine fibroids are those who are childbearing. However, in extremely rare cases, uterine fibroids may persist in developing in menopausal women, especially if they are undergoing hormone therapy to preserve their progesterone and estrogen levels.
Cause #4 – Hormones
Two hormones — estrogen and progesterone, cause the tissue that lines the inner part of the uterus to thicken during each menstrual cycle in preparation for pregnancy. These hormones also appear to promote fibroid growth.
Fibroids include more estrogen and progesterone-binding cells than typical uterine muscle cells. Hormone levels decline after menopause, which causes fibroids to shrink.
Cause #5 – Extracellular Matrix (ECM)
The material causes cells to stick together, similar to mortar between bricks. Uterine fibroids become fibrous due to an increase in ECM. The ECM also stores growth factors and regulates cell biology.
Cause #6 – High Body Mass Index (BMI)
A high BMI increases your likelihood of developing uterine fibroids, but it has little effect on the size of each one. The link between high BMI and uterine fibroids is due to the elevated estrogen that is usually associated with obesity.
Final Words
Some uterine fibroid causes (for example, having a family history of fibroids) are beyond your control, but that doesn’t imply you’re stuck with fibroids indefinitely.
In the past, hysterectomies and myomectomies were the primary treatments, but invasive surgery isn’t your sole option. So, it’s best to consult with a professional doctor to address this issue early.