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Fibroids: A silent health problem affecting women in Trinidad and Tabago
– Reported, May 24, 2013
The health of women is an issue that requires focused attention today. Many concerns dominate the public agenda. Cancer, in particular breast and cervical cancer, affect women in Trinidad and Tobago. Diabetes, osteoporosis, complications of labour and delivery, and HIV/AIDS dominate health articles in newspapers and the general public is sensitised to prevalence, prevention and treatment of these various conditions. Uterine fibroids do not enjoy the same level of public awareness. Yet among women of Trinidad and Tobago, fibroids is an area of concern that is discussed among women in closed circles. Fibroids affect a larger proportion of Trinidad and Tobago women more than cancer, and HIV/AIDS. Fibroids usually do not occur before puberty and shrink after menopause. So frequent is its occurrence for women in Trinidad and Tobago, it has been described as a rite of passage along the biological timeline of growth phases (i.e. puberty, fibroids, menopause) in many women.
Fibroids cause severe abdominal pain, excessive bleeding, constipation, involuntary urination, asymptomatic pelvic masses, infertility, preterm labor, and spontaneous abortion, but rarely cause cancer and are the most cited indication for hysterectomies. Fibroid growth is stimulated by the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone, and may distort the uterine surface. Black women have more fibroids and larger uteri that accounts for the higher incidence of complications.
Fibroids have a major impact on the quality of life that women enjoy in Trinidad and Tobago. It is important to recognise that the lived experiences of many women with fibroids are painful and very embarrassing. Many women with fibroids suffer in silence and only rarely is there public mention of this topic. This paper provides a brief review of the current research on fibroids. Using information provided from interviews with medical practitioners and women with fibroids, it explains the experiences of women and the perspectives of the medical profession towards fibroids as a health condition.
Treatment is individualized based on the severity of symptoms, size and location of fibroid lesions, age, proximity to menopause, and desire for children. The goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms using any of the following:
Vitamin D analogues may be used to prevent fibroids as there is a strong correlation between lower concentrations of Vitamin D and fibroid severity.
Green tea contains bioflavonoids that potentially block each stage in the pathogenesis of fibroids.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists suppress the release of gonadotropins and the sex hormones, but have adverse side effects.
Selective estrogen receptor modulators have the potential to prevent ovarian stimulation. These drugs also have adverse side effects and are contraindicated in certain females with a prior history of stroke, etc.
CREDITS.
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