A Harmless Tumor Most Women Have But Don’t Talk About
And can possibly ruin any plans you have of being a mother
Uterine Fibroids.
If you’re a woman, you’ve probably already heard of this medical condition.
You probably already know how it affects the fertility of most adult women and often their chances of getting pregnant.
You’re probably aware of how common it is in women especially those in their childbearing years.
Good for you if you did.
Unfortunately for me, I didn’t.
And that’s the sad part. I breezed through my 20’s thinking I was strong and healthy and had the grandiose illusion that I’ll bear children when I’m ready.
Boy, was I ever wrong.
When I found out that I had this condition, I was heartbroken. While the condition itself isn’t life-threatening, it made my chances of having a baby, giving birth, and being a mother smaller. And it’s ironic because it started with a mass that measured 7cm (that’s big in medical terms). Now, I don’t even know how big it is anymore.
I was 30 years old when I discovered I had Uterine Fibroids. And now I call it the bane of my maternal existence because I’ll never know if I can ever get pregnant. Ever.
And even if I do, complications are inevitable.
So, what are Uterine Fibroids, and what causes them?
In WebMD’s definition, they are benign (non-cancerous) lumps that grow around the uterus. They’re also known as leiomyomas or myomas and normally appear when a woman is at the age of childbirth.
Now, most women might not even know that they have uterine fibroids since these “tumors” don’t usually show any major symptoms.
However, for women who do experience symptoms, the common ones include:
- Heavy menstruation
- Pelvic cramping or pains
- Pain during sex
- Frequent urges to urinate
- Constant back pains
- Constipation
Mind you, the only symptom that I showed before I even knew about this were back pains but I never really thought they were anything serious.
I guess the only good news is that they aren’t linked to possible risks of uterine cancer and rarely develop into a cancerous condition. Still, it’s not a risk to wait for because tumors can potentially turn into something serious if not treated early.
Most diagnoses I get from doctors about Uterine Fibroids is that they would usually go away when a woman gets pregnant as it gets flushed out along with the baby during delivery and during a woman’s menopausal age. But if one should choose to undergo medical treatments — like me — the options usually include myomectomy, hysterectomy, and hormone therapy.
You see, the problems I hear a lot about women’s fertility usually include Ovarian Cancer, Cervical Cancer, and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Who would’ve thought these “lumps” could also stop you from getting pregnant?
Writing about this still makes my chest ache. Even until today, I’d cry not knowing if I’ll ever have a baby of my own.
So, if you’re a woman and reading this, take this as a hard lesson: don’t wait until you’re in your 30’s to get pregnant if you’re looking to become a mother someday, especially if the women in your family have a history of ovarian issues. Have yourself checked constantly with your OB-Gyne and get a pap smear.
Don’t be like me.
