How to Fight Fibroids: Treatment and Prevention

Fibroid tumors are a problem that affects many women. Often called uterine fibroids, these are tumors or growths made up of muscle cells and other tissue that grow within the wall of the uterus. In most cases fibroids are noncancerous but they can still cause great problems for the women who suffer from them. The size of fibroids can vary to as small as an apple to as large as a grapefruit. They can grow alone or in clusters or groups. While the cause is unknown, fibroids often strike women who are of childbearing age. Among racial groups, African American women are more prone to getting fibroids as are obese and overweight women. There aren't always symptoms of having fibroids, however, according to the National Institute of Health, some women experience symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, bleeding in between periods, pelvic pain, pain during sex, lower back pain, fatigue, bloating, frequent urination, and even miscarriages or infertility problems.

Your doctor may discover that you have fibroids during a regular pelvic exam, an ultrasound, CT scan, x-ray, or MRI, or other procedures such as a laparoscopy or hysteroscopy in which the doctor inserts a small tube with a camera attached to it to see if any fibroids are visible on the uterus. If you have fibroids or even if you don't have them, below are some treatment options as well as ways to prevent them.

Step One-Family History. The first thing you should do is check your family history for fibroids. There has been speculation that genetics may play a role in women who get them. Researchers are currently doing genetic studies to find out who's likely to develop fibroids.

Step Two-Your Lifestyle. As women, we have to be careful of what we eat. Consuming foods that are high in fat, sugar, and caffeine can encourage the growth of fibroids. Excess sugar and fat consumed can also interfere with the liver's ability to remove excess estrogen, which stimulates fibroid growth. Many women consume high-fat and high-sugar foods when stress leads to emotional eating. A solution would be to find other ways to relieve your stress such as exercise, meditation, or some other hobby. Also, eat less high-fat and high-sugar foods and ass healthier foods to your diet such as fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, and whole grains.

Step Three-Treatment Options. If you're diagnosed with having fibroid tumors, there are several treatment options available to you. It's important to take your symptoms into consideration when talking to your doctor in order to better decide which treatment option is right for you. If you have no symptoms or mild symptoms with little pain, your doctor may prescribe hormonal medications or suggest pain medication such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Surgical options available to you include a myomectomy-which removes fibroids without taking any of the healthy uterine tissue; uterine artery embolization (also called uterine fibroid embolization), where the blood supply to the fibroid is cut off causing it to shrink; and myolosis and cryomyolysis which kill the fibroids using heat and cold, but require additional medical training which is something many doctor's don't opt to obtain. In some extreme cases, a hysterectomy may be the best option in getting rid of fibroids. In this procedure, the entire uterus is removed. This option is usually not used for women who wish to have children, as a hysterectomy leaves women unable to have children. Other women opt for natural or holistic treatments such as taking herbal blends including dong quai, vitex, red root, cleavers, and blazing star; in addition to homeopathy and detoxification and to dietary changes and exercise.

If you have fibroids, consider your symptoms and carefully choose what treatment options are best for you. Fibroids don't have to ruin your life. If you don't have fibroids, it's still important to take the proper steps towards having a healthy body and mind in order to minimize your chances of getting them in the future.

Sources:
National Institute of Health
MedlinePlus