DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I had stomach pain for two weeks and finally had an ultrasound of my abdomen. Nothing bad was found, except for a fibroid in my uterus. The doctor said this had nothing to do with my pain. He must be right, because the pain went away. Do I need to pursue the fibroid thing any further? The doctor never said I should. – L.C.

ANSWER: Fibroids are benign (not cancerous) growths of the uterine muscle. The uterus is a muscular sac with a specialized lining for the support of a developing fetus. Fibroids are very prevalent. Forty percent to 50 percent of women over the age of 35 have one or more of them.

Their cause is baffling. Genes have some role, because they run in families. Hormones influence their growth. As evidence of that, they enlarge during pregnancy and usually regress after menopause, when estrogen production wanes.

Most often, fibroids are incidental findings that need no attention. I’m putting your fibroid in that category.

Troublesome fibroids can lead to heavy menstrual periods. Sometimes they’re the source of pelvic pain. Large fibroids pressing on the bladder give rise to frequent urination. Large fibroids also can complicate pregnancy, depending on their size and location. Extremely rarely are they implicated in infertility.

You should let your gynecologist know that a fibroid was discovered, but you don’t need to take any more action than that.

The fibroid booklet discusses this common condition in detail. Readers who would like a copy can obtain one by writing: Dr. Donohue – No.1106, Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Enclose a check or money order (no cash) for $4.75 U.S./$6 Can. with the recipient’s printed name and address. Please allow four weeks for delivery.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: In my 65 years, I had never had an electrocardiogram. I had a complete exam this past month, and the doctor asked me about an EKG. When I said I had never had one, he thought it would be a good idea.

It turns out I have something called Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Does this mean the big one is about to happen? The doctor sort of shrugged it off. – R.C.

ANSWER: Most likely, you have had Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome from birth and you have had no signs of it other than the EKG changes. It’s quite likely you won’t have any signs of it for your next 65 years.

There’s a tiny dynamo in the upper heart called the sinus node. It generates an electrical impulse a little more often than once every second. That impulse travels down to the bottom part of the heart, the ventricles, to make them contract and pump blood out of the heart. The heart is wired with a superhighway for the signal to reach the ventricles.

In WPW, the heart has an alternate route that the electric signal can traverse. Some people with this alternate route have episodes where their heart speeds up or where their heart develops the abnormal heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation. These people do need treatment. Medicines can often stop the speed-ups. If they cannot, the extra pathway can be zapped with a special catheter.

You’re not on the verge of having the big one.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have a rash in my genital area. I have been using talcum powder to dry it up. I read that women should not use talcum powder because it can cause cancer. Is this just another scare? – V.D.

ANSWER: Talc, a soft mineral, is the main ingredient in talcum powder. Used as a dusting powder for the genital region, talc granules can migrate to the ovary and possibly generate ovarian cancer.

You shouldn’t use it as a dusting powder there.

You should also find out what this rash is so the appropriate treatment can be prescribed.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I used to jump rope but stopped a couple of years ago. I had read somewhere that people in my age bracket (I’m 73) should not jump rope, as it could damage the legs and heels, etc. What is your opinion? – W.C.

ANSWER: Jumping rope is wonderful aerobic exercise. It also promotes agility and coordination. I’ve tried it but found it exhausting. It ranks with jogging and running as high-quality exercise. It is high-impact exercise, but so are jogging and running. Many rope jumpers don’t raise their feet any higher off the ground than joggers do, so the stress is just about equivalent. I see people your age jogging. No one tells them not to do so if their hearts are healthy.

You can take some of the stress off your joints by wearing well-cushioned shoes and jumping on a giving surface. Concrete is not giving.

I’m saying this trusting that you have no joint pains before or after exercise and you have no joint ailments. Am I right?

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall.com