Did you know that 80% of all women around the globe are afflicted with uterine fibroids??? That’s 3/4 of 51% of human beings world wide…that’s way more people, even, than are on Zuckerberg’s Face Book!  The big question is WHY?  Ta-da, and the answer…well, it’s a mystery encased in an enigma neatly wrapped in a uterus!  So many women afflicted, yet, we still don”t know. Remember the Tubbs/Mikulski Bill? Cross  your fingers (and all other body parts) that the Bill passes, for  then we will solve this puzzle as to the etiology of fibroids. Now, in the mean time, what do we know? Well, a fibroid starts from a single cell that mutates–grows abnormally. Some theorize that the birth (if you will) of a fibroid is linked to the increased levels of estrogen and progesterone (that lovely duo) resulting in the increased mitotic rate contributing to their formation…got it? me neither!! Awls(sic) I’m sayin’ is, that in spite of the prevalence of fibroids found in the global population of women, they do no good! Similar to the outdatedness of today’s appendix, the fibroid probably was not as prevalent in those glory days of antiquity. Women in the past had a shorter life span; more demands on them physically; prolonged breastfeeding, resulting in fewer menstrual periods and less hormone activity. Yeah, we found the one good thing about living in ancient times–no fibroids, yippie!!

The risk factors for getting a fibroid, however, have generally been agreed upon. As follows:

* early menarche

*ages 35 - 50

*obesity ( 6% increase for each unit BMI)

* sedentary life style

* diet rich in animal products (esp. conventional)

*no children

* African-American women (3 times as likely)

* heredity

Reviewing these risk factors as preliminary agents with regards to fibroid production, were of particular interest to me. Except for age, not one of these factors apply to my getting a big fat (don’t forget u-g-l-y) fibroid. Indulge me for just a moment and let’s take a look-see, shall we?!  I am Caucasian, became a woman at the late age of 15, sedentary has never ever been part of my vernacular, I have 2 children, breastfed each child 3 years (they are plotzing right now!), and by gosh, I have been a vegetarian for 41 fricken years–avoiding animal/fowl products, eating fibrous vegetables that help reduce  serum estrogen levels. Why, it looks as if, in my case, that  the cause was not a direct influence as to the reason for said fibroid. Now, I am left swirling swirling swirling in an eddy of head-scratching questions. Why, oh why, oh why??

With all of the research/reading that I have consumed, I do have my own theories as to why my uterus laid out the welcome mat and became the lovely living quarters for one ginormous fibroid—For this revelation, please stay tuned as it will be discussed in    “WHEN GOOD HORMONES GO BAD”  or,  “HOW THEY SUMMARILY POISONED MY PERFECTLY FABULOUS UTERUS” …..till then; be well, do good work, and stay tuned!