Uterine fibroids
Uterine fibroids are growths made up of the muscle and connective tissue from the wall of the uterus. Uterine fibroids aren’t associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and almost never develop into cancer.
It is usually abenign tumor that develops in the tissue of the uterus and is rarely malignant.
Uterine fibroids is one of the most frequent benign pathologies of the female reproductive system and its appearance is more common during a woman’s childbearing age. They usually start to appear between the ages of 20 and 30, as this is when
They can appear in different dimensions and in different locations in the uterus.
The uterine fibroid can be:
Intramural Fibroids – are the most common type of fibroid and appear in the muscular wall of the uterus;
Subserosal fibroids – growth on the outer uterine wall;
Submucosal fibroids – develops in the inner layer of the uterus and an block and distort fallopian tubes.
There are many cases in which fibroids appear and there is no type of symptom or manifestation, but in some women they can cause heavy and prolonged periods and if not treated in time, it can even cause anemia, which causes changes in the body’s iron levels. This happens most often with submucosal fibroids.
What causes the appearance of fibroids?
It is not clear what causes uterine fibroids, but it is possible to identify the factors that contribute to their development.
Uterine fibroids appear at reproductive age, that means that fibroids do not appear before the body is able to produce estrogen.
After menopause, the trend is to reduce its dimensions since at this stage, the woman no longer produces estrogen.
Environmental factors: exposure to chemicals, which somehow interfere with the endocrine system, play an important role in the appearance/development of fibroids.
Genetics:According to several studies, the main causes for the appearance and development of fibroids are genetic and hormonal factors.
Food: food always plays a fundamental role in any pathology. In the case of fibroids, it is necessary to eat in a way that can help you balance the hormones. Vitamin D deficiency (or insufficiency) is considered a risk factor for the development and growth of fibroids. A diet richer in red meat, pork and dairy products, and poorer in consumption of green vegetables, fruits (particularly citrus fruits) and fish, is associated with a greater likelihood of developing uterine fibroids.
Other risk factors: hypertension, overweight, metabolic syndrome;
Symptoms
Most uterine fibroids do not cause any symptoms, but in cases where symptoms do appear, the most frequent is the change in menstruation, which in more severe cases can lead to anemia. Some symptoms are similar to Endometriosis symptoms, so proper diagnosis is important to properly treat the cause. Although fibroids can rarely be malignant, it is important to be aware of signs and symptoms.
Most frequent symptoms:
Feeling of pressure in the pelvic area;
Blood loss between periods;
Abundant and prolonged menstrual periods;
Constipation and Gastrointestinal disorder;
Painful intercourse;
Abdominal bloating for no apparent reason;
Constant urge to pee;
Incontinence;
In more severe cases, fibroids can cause polyps that can grow in the endometrium, which aggravates menstrual pain and bleeding.
Who has fibroids can get pregnant?
Yes! In most cases, the location and size of the fibroid do not influence the function of the uterus, and if a woman does not have any symptoms, it is very unlikely that the fibroid will interfere with a woman’s ability to become pregnant.
However, if a woman knows she has fibroids, before becoming pregnant, she should seek help from a specialized professional to do exams to assess precisely to the size and location of uterine fibroids. In the postpartum, fibroids can actually shrink to the size they were before pregnancy or they can even disappear.
During pregnancy, most fibroids do not suffer any type of change, but growth can occur, being more frequent up to 12 weeks, and there may be associated pain.
Diagnosis
The diagnosis is made by the Gynecologist, through gynecologic and ultrasound examination.
It is only possible to confirm the presence of uterine fibroids, their location and size, through ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging.
Prevention
Maintain a healthy lifestyle, favor a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables;
It is possible to significantly reduce the symptoms of fibroids and, if these are reduced, a more aggressive type of treatment, even surgery, is usually not necessary.
What can we do to control the growth of fibroids?
Minimize exposure to endocrine disruptors as much as possible to ensure balanced levels of estrogen;
For your diet, choose organic, biological and certified products whenever possible and favor an anti-inflammatory diet rich in vegetables and fish; (see anti-inflammatory diet article)
Remove dairy products from your diet and favor the consumption of foods rich in Fiber, Vitamin D and Vitamin A;
Pay attention to the labels of your cosmetic products;
Increase the consumption of green tea (except for pregnancy);
Keep healthy habits;
Exercise, even if it’s a daily walk;
Do regular exams to check your iron levels.
Adopt these tips and over time you will start feeling the differences. The decrease in symptoms is a likely sign that the size of the fibroids is decreasing. If after 4 to 6 months you do not notice any differences, if symptoms persist with the same intensity, please consult a specialized professional.
Keep in mind that some fibroids are already sizable and impossible to shrink naturally.
Knowing the type of uterine fibroids you have is critical to your health.
Supplementation and Phytotherapy
Remember that supplementation and phytotherapy are always a complement to any pathology. To treat properly, a diagnosis is always needed to understand what is causing your complaint. In the case of uterine fibroids, the supplementation and phytotherapy depends in the cause of the fibroids. At TMC Health you can find all the products indicated with the respective information and recommended daily dosage.
Supplementation:
Phytotherapy: