Uterine Fibroids – History, Causes, Treatment and Prevention.
Definition Uterine fibroid is the most common benign (not cancerous) tumor of a woman’s uterus (womb). Fibroids are tumors of the smooth muscle found in the wall of the uterus.They can develop within the uterine wall itself or attach to it. They may grow as a single tumor or in clusters. Uterine fibroids can cause excessive menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, and frequent urination. History In the period of Hippocrates in 460-375 B.C., this lesion was known as the “uterine stone”. Galen called this finding “scleromas” during the second century of the Christian period. The term fibroid was coined and introduced in 1860 by Rokitansky and in the 1863 by Klob. In 1854, a German pathologist named Virchow demonstrated that these neoplasms (fibroids) were composed from smooth muscle cells. It was Virchow who introduced the word “myoma”. Historical treatments for uterine fibroids In 1809, Danville, USA, the first laparotomy was performed consequent to an indication of myoma. Mrs. Jane Todd ...