Biology 101 / DNA Testing

Genetic Disease : Uterine Fibroids

The women in my family are prone to uterine fibroids . Fibroids are abnormal growths of the connective tissue in female reproductive organs They can become larger or smaller according to the presence of female hormone in the body , the can produce heavy and painful menses , and they can be the cause for miscarriages and hysterectomies , among other things . According to an article in the BBC News , uterine fibroids are caused by a mutation to the fumarate hydratase (FH ) gene ( Genetic Cause ' 2002

One woman in my family

from my generation had fibroids that were serious enough to require a complete hysterectomy . The condition was so bad that part of the cervix was adhered so tightly to the abdominal wall that it was unable to be removed . One of our maternal aunts also had a hysterectomy due to fibroids that aunt 's daughter also has heavy menses associated with fibroids . In addition , our maternal grandmother 's sister also had heavy menses and female surgery ' probably a hysterectomy or a D C . Although there is no proof of fibroids in that generation , the symptoms are suggestive of them . In addition , one paternal aunt also had a hysterectomy due to fibroids after a period of infertility . Given the genetic history or pedigree ' of the family there is a good chance that any woman is at risk of having uterine fibroids . A genetic test would be able to confirm which woman in the family would have inherited the mutated FH gene , possibly enabling those women who were affected to get early treatment and reducing the need for hysterectomies to be performed

To my knowledge , there is no genetic test that is readily accessible to the general public that is predictive of fibroid tumors . If there were such a test and I felt that I was at risk , then I would definitely want to have the test . I would also want to be told the result , particularly if the results showed that I did have fibroids

Reference

Genetic cause for fibroids (2002 . BBC News : Health . Retrieved 28 Dec 2007 from http /news .bbc .co .uk /1 /hi /health /1839847 .stm...