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Fibroids
are benign (non-cancerous) tumors of the uterus. They grow in
various locations on and within the muscular wall of the uterus or
inside the uterine cavity. Their structure is encapsulated
connective tissue that can be single or multiple. They vary in size
from a few millimeters to very large, for example, the size of a
football, and they affect 20 - 25% of women past the age of 35.
Fibroids rarely occur before adolescence and shrink after menopause.
They can run in families, although environmental factors play a huge
role in whether a disease is ever expressed.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Most
commonly there is heavy, clotty and prolonged bleeding which can
lead to anemia and fatigue as well as painful periods, backache and
swelling. Some women will have no symptoms, and symptoms are rare
before 30 years of age. Larger fibroids will start to put pressure
on adjacent abdominal organs causing increased urinary frequency,
feelings of heaviness and congestion in the lower abdomen and
abdominal enlargement. Depending on the location of the fibroid, it
may cause miscarriage or infertility.
DIAGNOSIS
Diagnosis is made by pelvic ultrasound, pelvic examination and
palpation, and laparoscopy.
Fibroids that are not interfering with fertility or causing unwanted
symptoms are often simply left as they are, and require no surgery
or drugs to shrink or remove them. Monitoring every six months and
employing alternative therapies to moderate their growth and to
rebalance the underlying hormones is advisable. In rare cases, they
can undergo malignant change and develop into sarcoma.
COMMON THEORIES OF CAUSATION
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Oestrogen. It is unknown why the uterine muscle
begins to rearrange itself, but it is known that its growth is
stimulated by oestrogen. This is illustrated by the facts that
pregnancy reduces the risk of developing fibroids and that a
fibroid will shrink after menopause. Obesity, however, is
related to an increased risk as there is increased production of
oestrogen in fatty tissue. One study found that there are more
oestrogen and progesterone receptors in fibroid tissue than in a
normal uterus.
-
Toxicity. The liver and bowel are particularly
important, as the liver breaks down oestrogen to be detoxified
and carried out of the body in the fasces. If the liver is
functioning poorly and/or there is constipation, there will be a
consequent build up of excess Oestrogen in the blood. In today's
modern world of high pollution, chemicals and highly refined
Western diets, often both the liver and digestion are
compromised.
-
Insulin. High insulin levels, that control
blood sugar, stimulate the release of growth hormone that in
turn increases the growth of fibroids.
-
Stress. Stress lowers the hormone, melatonin ,
causing increased growth hormone that stimulates fibroid growth.
Stress also raises levels of the hormone, prolactin, that
inhibits progesterone, causing a relative excess of oestrogen
('oestrogen dominance').
-
Nutrition. As illustrated above, highly refined
carbohydrates, especially sugar, cause insulin resistance and
consequent fibroid growth. Growth hormone is also increased by
low concentrations of essential fatty acids in the blood. A
highly processed diet lacks fiber and causes constipation, which
can increase oestrogen levels as explained above. Coffee,
alcohol, cigarettes and other recreational drugs are all liver
toxins and exacerbate insulin resistance.
TREATMENTS FOR FIBROIDS
Naturopathic treatments can be useful, especially to improve the
symptom of heavy bleeding and to control the underlying hormonal
imbalance that is fuelling the growth of the fibroid. However, it is
rare that these treatments will shrink the tumor. A reduction in
symptoms does not correlate with the size or growth rate of the
tumor.
Diet
-
Eat regularly: 3 main meals and 2 snacks daily
that stimulate your metabolism. If you skip meals, it slows your
metabolism down and your blood sugar levels drop, so that you
crave sugar or a stimulant to bring them back up again quickly.
-
Protein. Having protein in all your meals
controls your blood sugars by slowing down the absorption of
sugars, stimulating your metabolism, and decreasing hunger and
sugar cravings, as well as being important for liver
detoxification of the hormones. Vegetarian protein foods are
dairy, eggs, beans, legumes, nuts and seeds.
-
Preventing anemia (low iron levels from excessive
blood loss) is important. This should be checked by a blood test
with your doctor - check ferritin (iron stores) as well as
hemoglobin (iron in red blood cells). Increase iron-rich foods:
red meat, whole grains, spinach, dried apricots, peaches and figs,
almonds, molasses, parsley, prunes and others. Iron absorption is
enhanced by vitamin C: squeeze lemon juice onto food or use in
salad dressings, include berries, tomato, capsicum, broccoli and
cabbage with your meals. Iron absorption is inhibited by the
following: phytates that occur in whole grains, beans and legumes,
but vitamin C, soaking and slow cooking counteract their effects;
polyphenols found in black tea, coffee and cola drinks; calcium -
take calcium supplements at different times from iron supplements
or meals.
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