Although it can sound scary, “Tumor” does not necessarily mean cancer. Reproductive tumors are abnormal growths that come out of the reproductive organs. They can be non-cancerous or cancerous. Their origin can be from ovaries, the uterus, the cervix, fallopian tubes or in men, the testes, prostate or penis. The tumors that are usually the most worrying are the malignant types such as cervical, uterine (endometrial) or ovarian tumors. Even so, the benign types can also cause a lot of problems.
Most reproductive cancers occur in older age, while in younger people, low- severity variants are more common. This article explores how common these tumors are in Ethiopia, when they tend to be diagnosed, what signs to watch out for, and how to take measures to protect yourself.
The most common type of non-cancerous reproductive tumor that affects women are fibroids. These are growths in the uterus that usually show no symptoms, and if symptomatic, are often mistaken for a particularly bad bout of PMS. Besides having an insidious presentation it is also very common. Some studies show that up to 8 out of 10(1) women develop fibroids by the time they are 50(2).
On the other hand, some ovarian tumors are commonly seen in young women. These are most common between the ages of 15 and 30. They are often found during routine checkups or when a girl visits a clinic complaining of lower abdominal pain or swelling.
The cause of reproductive tumors is not exactly known, but hormonal imbalances are undeniably associated. Both too much or too little hormones are frequently seen in reproductive tumors. Some signs of hormonal irregularity can be getting your period early in life, heavy periods and cramping as mentioned above. They can also be caused by taking the birth control pill, hormone therapy or having a child (both at too young an age or too old).
Cancerous tumors can quickly spread to other parts of the body and cause a serious illness. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in Ethiopia. As of 2015, the prevalence was 18%(3) , and since then that number has only gone up(4) .
Though it is diagnosed in women over 30, the disease often begins years earlier. It begins in adolescence when HPV infection and early sexual activity set the stage. That might be why you have been hearing a lot about school girls’ HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening campaigns these days. The studies since have shown that about 15 out of every 100 young women screened have these early warning signs for cervical cancer.
Tumors, benign or malignant, often start silently. And although the stats show that many of them become apparent in older age, they often have early signs, and exposure to the risk factors occurs in youth. So it is important to pay attention to your body. If you’re experiencing unusual bleeding, pelvic pain, swelling, or a lump, don’t ignore it. For young men, a monthly self-check of the testicles can help catch problems early.
Even for the non-cancerous types, awareness and early treatment can be the difference between a healthy life and permanent complications. Especially in Ethiopia where harmful myths about sexual illnesses are rampant and access to care is scarce, it is important to keep informed, know your risk and take a proactive approach to screening and prevention.
1. (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01478885.2023.2265185#d1e107)
2. (https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMra1209993)
3. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33538338/)
4. 4. (https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/11769351211068431#core-bibr2-11769351211068431-3)
Written by – Dr. Hosaena Gebru
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