Spokane Medical Research

It is difficult to know how to protect women from getting fibroids, since no one knows what causes them. Howeverm there are natural and hormone-induced states that can increase or reduce one’s risk of getting fibroids.

It seems that the female hormone estrogen plays a key role in the growth of fibroids. For example, during pregnancy there are high levels of estrogen in a woman’s body, and fibroids tend to grow more rapidly and increase in size in pregnant women. The same is true for women taking higher-dose oral contraceptives containing estrogen.

On the other hand, pills containing lower estrogen doses generally do not cause an increase in the size of fibroids. Fibroids are not found in women before they begin menstruating and, for the most part, they do not develop or enlarge after menopause unless a woman takes estrogen supplements or a malignant change takes place. Fibroids tend to shrink and become less problematic as a woman approaches menopause and as estrogen levels recede.

Researchers are investigating whether abnormal chromosomes may cause fibroids to grow. There is also research concerning how estrogen affects fibroid growth at the cellular and molecular levels.

This research may arm healthcare providers with methods to prevent fibroids in the future.