Natural Treatment for Uterine Fibroids

There are actually many treatment options for fibroids instead of drugs and surgery. Even if the fibroids are causing problems, there's a lot that women can do to deal with the fibroids.

From "Healing Fibroids: A Doctor's Guide to a Natural Cure", written by Allan Warshowsky, MD (a certified ob-gyn), there are some important points about how to deal with fibroids in natural ways;

1. Reduce consumption of "white" foods

"White" foods like white bread, cookies, cakes and pasta increase insulin, which changes the way estrogen is metabolized and creating compounds that are more likely to cause cellular inflammation and fibroid symptoms.

2. Consume soy and flaxseed

Soy and flaxseed are rich in phytoestrogens, which decrease the effects of estrogen levels naturally by blocking the estrogen receptors on the cells of fibroids.  Researches have shown that soy and flaxseed help the body in producing smaller amounts of unhealthy estrogen while flaxseed is also high in fiber and omega-3 fats, which helps reducing inflammation and tumor growth throughout the body.

3. Consider herbs

There are many varieties of herbs that help balancing estrogen levels naturally, such as chasteberry, dong quai and black cohosh. These herbs have been used for centuries for many gynecological cases.

Fat Facts

Although many people told that all fat is bad, it's not simply true. Our body actually needs fat to absorb and store certain vitamins such as; vitamin A, D, E and K. Those vitamins are important for our gynecological health which helps balancing hormone's level in our body.

Below are just a few fruits, vegetables, grains, nut and animal protein that we need to helping our body fight against these painful and sometimes cancerous fibroids;

• Berries
• Apples
• Bananas
• Pineapples
• Melons
• Pears
• Oranges
• Grapefruits
• Radishes
• Onions
• Garlic
• Cucumber
• Celery
• Artichokes
• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Leafy greens
• Rice
• Oates
• Barely
• All whole grains
• Peanuts
• Peas
• Dried beans
• Almonds
• Cashews
• Brazil nuts
• Walnuts
• Filberts
• Sunflower Seeds
• Pumpkin seeds
• Flaxseeds- are the best
• Deep sea fish

What if the natural treatment method is not enough to fight against fibroids?

Next time I’ll post about Uterine Fibroid Embolization procedure.

Why Should Women Know About Fibroids?

Uterine Fibroids FAQ

Every woman, especially those who are in productive age should know and be aware about uterine fibroids. It is because fibroids can happen to 20-80% of all women below the age of 50.

What are fibroids?

Fibroids, or in medical term often called as myoma are muscular tumors grow in the wall of uterus (womb). Although fibroids are almost not cancerous, they can become very large in some unusual cases. Fibroids can grow as single or multiple tumors. The size can be as small as apple seed or as big as a grapefruit.

Uterine Fibroids

What causes fibroids?

No one knows exactly what causes fibroids. Many researchers blamed these two factors as the cause of fibroids; hormonal factors (estrogen and progesterone) and genetic factors.

Because nobody knows exactly what causes fibroids, no one also knows what causes them to shrink or grow. However, while fibroids are under hormonal control, they'll grow rapidly when pregnant (when hormone levels are high) and shrink when anti-hormone medication is used. Or when women reach menopause, fibroids may stop growing and shrink.

Who have a high risk of getting fibroids?

- Women whose age is 30-40 years old. This is a productive age. After menopause, fibroids usually shrink.

- Women who have family members with fibroids history will have higher risk of having fibroids.

- African-American women are more likely to develop fibroids than white women.

- Overweight women are at higher risk for fibroids, it is 2-3 times greater than average.

- Women who eat a lot of meat and ham are linked with a higher risk of fibroids.

Where is the exact location of uterine fibroids?

Most fibroids grow in the wall of uterus. Based on the location of the fibroids, doctors put them into 3 groups;

- Submucosal fibroids which grow into the uterine cavity.

- Intramural fibroids which grow within the wall of uterus.

- Subserosal fibroids which grow on the outside of the uterus.

There is also one more type of fibroids called pedunculated fibroids which grow on stalks out of the surface of the uterus or into the cavity of the uterus. They may look like mushrooms.

Schematic drawing of various types of uterine fibroids: a=subserosal fibroids, b=intramural fibroids, c=submucosal fibroid, d=pedunculated submucosal fibroid, e=fibroid in statu nascendi

What are the symptoms of fibroids?

- heavy bleeding which can heavy enough to cause anemia.

- painful periods.

- feeling of fullness in the pelvic area.

- enlargement of the lower abdomen.

- frequent urination.

- pain during sex

- constipation

- lower back pain.

How can you know for sure that you have fibroids?

Actually, the doctor can feel the fibroids with his or her fingers during an ordinary pelvic exam as a lump or mass on the uterus.

Your doctor can also do imaging test to confirm that you have fibroids, which include;

- Ultrasound

A very large (9cm) fibroid of the uterus which is causing pelvic congestion syndrome

- MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

- X-Rays

- Cat Scan (CT)

A very large (9cm) fibroid of the uterus which is causing pelvic congestion syndrome

- HSG (Hysterosalpingogram) which involves x-ray dye injection into the uterus and taking x-ray pictures.

The doctors may also need surgery to know for sure if you have fibroids, such as;

- Laparoscopy.

The doctors insert a long, thin scope equipped with bright light and a camera into a tiny incision made in or near the navel. So they can view the uterus on a monitor during the procedure.

- Hysteroscopy.

The doctors pass a long thin scope with light through the vagina, that's why no incision is needed.

When you go to the doctors, what question should you ask them about your fibroids?

- How many fibroids are there?

- How large is their size?

- Where is the location?

- Can they grow larger? and how rapid are their growths?

- How can I detect if the fibroids grow larger?

- What further problems that may arise?

- What are the treatment options?

It's recommended to search second opinion if you don't find answers that meet your needs.

How to treat fibroids?

This part is separately posted in another section of this blog: Uterine Fibroids Treatment.

In the future, I will post more about natural treatment forfibroids.

Read also;

How to Deal with Fibroids and Pregnancy

Uterine Fibroids Treatment

If you're diagnosed to have uterine fibroids, but show no symptoms (such as heavy bleeding during menstruation, prolonged menstrual cycles, bleeding between menstrual periods, pain in the abdomen, frequent urination, pain during intercourse sexual or constipation), then you may not need further treatment. What doctors will do is examining during your regular checkups to see if the fibroids grow.
But for those who have fibroids with one or more of the above symptoms, there are some treatments that can help. Generally, there are two types of fibroid treatment, medication and surgery.
Usually, your doctor will ask you a few things to consider before choosing an appropriate treatment, such as;
- Whether you have symptoms of uterine (as mentioned above).
- Your age and proximity to menopause you are.
- Whether you are planning to become pregnant in the future.
- The size and location of fibroids.

There are 4 common types of fibroids location;
- Intramural fibroids, located in the wall of the uterus. It's the most common types of fibroids.
- Subserosal fibroids, located outside the wall of the uterus. This kind of uterine fibroids can become quite large.
- Submucosal fibroids, located in the muscle beneath the lining of the uterus wall.
- Cervical fibroids, located in the cervix.

Location of Fibroids in the Uterus

Medication Treatment for Fibroids

The doctor may suggest you to take medicine if you have mild symptoms. Drugs that are recommended for fibroids may include:

-          Ibuprofen or acetaminophen to reduce pain.

-          Iron supplement to prevent anemia if you have heavy bleeding

-          Low-dose oral birth control pills to control heavy bleeding.

-          GnRHa (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone agonist) to shrink fibroids and usually used before surgery to make fibroids easier to remove. This drug has some side effects like depression, trouble sleeping, reduced libido and joint pain. GnRHa may cause bone thinning, so their use is limited to a maximum of six months. These drugs are also very expensive but offer only temporary relief of symptoms of fibroids. This means that when you stop taking the drugs, the fibroids often grow back quickly.

Surgery Treatment for Fibroids

If you have moderate to severe symptoms, the best way to treat your fibroids is surgery. There are some options for fibroid surgery;
- Myomectomy
This is an action to remove the fibroids without removing the healthy tissue of the uterus. It is probably the right choice for those wishing to get pregnant in the future. However, if your fibroids are located deep in the womb, you may need a cesarean childbirth. After performing a myomectomy, new fibroids may grow and cause problems.

Myomectomy

- Hysterectomy
Hysterectomy is performed when the fibroids are large and cause bleeding, it’s often carried out to those who are already menopause or will not get pregnant in the future. This is major surgery to remove the uterus. Although this surgery has a high risk of complications, but hysterectomy is usually quite safe.
- Endometrial Ablation
A woman can not carry a baby after this surgery; endometrial ablation removes or destroys the lining of the uterus. The goal is to control bleeding. This can be considered a minor surgery and made with the laser, the loops of thread, boiling water, electric current, microwaves or freezing. Approximately 50% of women who have this surgery have not menstrual bleeding and more than 30% have much lighter bleeding.
- Myolysis
It is also an action to destroy the fibroids by inserting a needle into the fibroids (usually guided by laparoscopy) and destroy them by the current method of freezing or electric.
- Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) / Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE)
This is an action to reduce fibroids by blocking the blood supply to the fibroids. Studies have shown that fibroids do not grow back after UFE, but more research is needed for a long time. However, not all fibroids can be treated with UFE. Good candidates for UFE are women who: have fibroids that cause heavy bleeding and pain on the bladder or rectum, do not want a hysterectomy and do not want to get pregnant in the future.

Read also: O My God, I'm Having Fibroids and Pregnancy

Oh My God, I’m Having Fibroids and Pregnancy!

You're pregnant and the doctor told you that you also have fibroids! Don't worry; it's not the end of the world. Because there many women who have successfully conceived and delivered normal and healthy babies although they have fibroids and pregnancy at the same time.

First question that might be appearing in your mind is, do these fibroids cause any complications with your pregnancy? The answer is maybe yes maybe no, but mostly no. Uterine tumors will not cause any major problem during pregnancy for many women. However, there are indeed some risks when having large size of fibroids during pregnancy;

1. It can block the birth canal, so you may not possible to deliver normally.

2. If the location of fibroids is closed with the fertilized egg, it can affect the abnormal position of the baby.

3. Fibroid tumors which continue to grow will require spaces and nutrition, this kind of tumors can cause miscarriages.

Uterine Fibroids and Pregnancy

So, how to treat fibroids while having pregnant?

Surely it's wise to avoid chemical medication or drugs. If you require, you can try these two natural methods before going in for surgery;

1. Pay attention to your diet

- Avoid processed food and consume organic food.

- Consume high-fiber foods such as fruits and vegetables, especially iron-rich green leafy vegetables.

- Avoid consuming dairy products, milk or yoghurt.

- Reduce the consumption of red meat and increase and increase consumption of fish.

2. Avoid stress life

- Use meditation or acupuncture.

- Be optimist and trust God that He'll help through fibroids and pregnancy safely.

8 Changes In Pregnant Mother's Body

Although welcoming a baby is a feeling of delight, surely there is an anxious feeling which is also occurred. Especially when you begin to realize changes on your body that you might encounter during pregnancy. What are those changes? Just go directly to the explanation below:

1. Breast Changes
When you’re pregnant, your breasts will soften, nipples become darker and more sensitive. Breast enlargement began to happen until you need a stronger and bigger bra size . That's the sign of the mammary gland starts producing milk.

2. A change of heart and lungs work
Heart of pregnant women will work harder to supply the increasing blood needs. In addition, the effect of uterine pressure on the lungs will cause a pregnant mother easily exhausted and breath harder.

3. Changes in skin and hair
Just don’t be lazy to take care of your skin and hair during pregnancy, because hormonal changes will make changes to both of them. Hair and skin may become more oily or drier than before you’re pregnant.

4. Emotional changes
It is very common if a pregnant mother discover uncertain feeling. Many feeling such as sad, happy, annoyed and others can arise in any moment. If these feeling is not managed properly, this condition can lead to depression or stress in pregnant mother. This can later influent the fetus, particularly its language ability development.

5. Changes in the mouth
Pregnant women often experience swelling of the gums, the occurrence of tartar and gum bleed easily. Teeth holes can also occurred.

6. Changes in urine
Enlargement of the uterus and the fetus is pressing the bladder causing urination of pregnant women more frequent. This can occur both day and night.

7. Feet and hands swelling
Accumulation of increasing blood volume due to fetal growth can cause legs to swell and also cause varicose veins. Usually the size of the shoe will be bigger than before.

8. Hemorrhoids
Hemorrhoids are often enlarged in pregnancy and worsened after delivery. To avoid this, avoid loud straining during loosing the bowel and consume fibrous foods to avoid constipation.

Many or few, changes in your body will definitely occur during pregnancy. Sometimes the changes will make you uncomfortable. Now the decision is yours, whether you can cope with those changes with ease so you can spend a wonderful 9-month period happily. Because the excitement during pregnancy will later bring joy to your baby too.

5 Signs When You'll See Your Baby For The First Time

Here are the signs when the delivery time is getting closer:

1. Baby down
A few weeks before delivery, the baby's head will go into the pelvic cavity. It's called the baby down and you will feel a lightening. If in the previous weeks, breathing felt tight because of fetal pressure on the lungs, then in this moment you will feel easier to breathe because the pressure in the pulmonary has been reduced. But on the other hand, the pelvic would be loaded and will felt heavier.

2. Contraction
Contraction is a common sign that started the process of childbirth, but many mothers also be fooled by false contractions (Braxton Hiks) which also frequently appeared in the last weeks of pregnancy. To distinguish these two contractions, noticed the pattern. False contractions are not painful, irregular and usually will be lost in any moment.
On the contrary, the intensity of the real contraction will be increased toward delivery. Along with the time, the more frequent, the more powerful contraction is. Initially, it will last for 30 minutes every 15-20 minutes. Then increase until up to 30-90 seconds at intervals of 3-5 minutes.

3. Spotting
During pregnancy, the cervix is covered by mucous to prevent the baby from infection. When the delivery is getting closer, the cervix open and become thinner in order to make the pass of baby’s head possible. Mucous mixed with blood came out due to interruption of the blood vessels at the opening of the cervix. Baby’s delivering can occur within hours or days.

4. Fetal membrane sac rupture
Sudden large amount of liquid discharge from the vagina indicates the fetal membrane was torn and broken. This usually makes panic. Go to the hospital or midwife immediately. 80% of mothers deliver their babies within 12 hours after the broken of fetal membrane.

5. Backache
This condition commonly occurred during pregnancy. But if the intensity is increased, it's a sign of back labor. Normally when the baby down into the birth canal, its face pressed the spine and causing pain. This pain can be felt in the abdomen but more dominant in the back area.

Hopefully useful!

Ideal Weight Increasing During Pregnancy

Many moms complain of excess weight after giving birth. According to research, there are two factors why it happen:
1. Because before pregnancy, excess weight is already happened.
2. Because during pregnancy, mother gains more weight than recommended.
Excessive weight gain is not recommended for pregnant women due to the risk for back pain, leg varicose veins, excessive fatigue, and even could be worse: diabetes, hypertension and pre-eclampsia.
Obesity also increases risk of miscarriage and complications during childbirth. Also the risk of having an overweight baby (> 4.5 kg) which can that cause long time and complications during childbirth.

Before you plan and set weight increasing during pregnancy, you should first calculate the Body Mass Index (BMI) with the following formula:

BMI = Weight (kg) / Height (m2)

So, if your weight is 45 kg and height 150 cm, then your BMI is:

BMI = 45 / (1.5 x 1.5) = 20

Next, check the table below to see the recommended weight gain during pregnancy:


Set the weight increasing during pregnancy is very important, so that after delivery there is no excess weight "left". This condition will result difficulties in restoring the body weight to its original weight before pregnancy.

Picture from here
Source: Baby Guide (MaxMedia)