Although doctors aren’t sure what cause uterine fibroids, they have found that some women are more at risk of experiencing the symptoms of fibroid cysts than others. Here are just a few of the factors that can increase a woman’s risk of developing symptomatic fibroids.

Age.

Women who are in their 30’s and 40’s are more likely to need uterine fibroid treatments than other women, as this is around the time that they usually begin to develop, and/or become problematic. The more women age, the more common fibroids become. However, they begin shrinking after menopause.

Diet.

Women who eat a lot of red meat — ham in particular — are at a higher risk of developing fibroids, so if you’d like to avoid the need for uterine fibroid surgery, consider incorporating more green vegetables into your diet.

Obesity.

Speaking of dietary needs, women who are overweight are more likely to need fibroid treatments, as well. In fact, the risk is two to three times greater for very heavy women than it is for ladies who are at a safer weight.

Family History.

Like many health problems, women who have family members who have needed fibroid treatments in the past are at a higher risk of developing problematic fibroids themselves. In fact, women whose mothers had fibroids have been found to be at a three times higher risk of developing them.

Ethnicity.

Ethnicity is also a factor. More African-American women have been found to need fibroid treatments than white women, in fact.

Although doctors are not sure what cause fibroids or why they develop, they have found that a woman’s age, diet, obesity, family history, and ehtnicity can each increase her risk of developing them.

If you have any questions about fibroid treatments, the signs and symptoms of fibroids, or the factors that have been found to increase their likeliness, feel free to share in the comments.