Do You Suffer With Uterine Fibroids and/or Endometriosis

Health Tip - Uterine Fibroids & Endometriosis

Uterine Fibroids

What is Uterine Fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are benign growths between the size of a walnut and orange that appear on or within uterine walls.

A combination of the size, number, and location of fibroids may determine the extent and type of symptoms.

The Symptoms can be mild to severe with:

• Excessive menstrual bleeding (long, gushing periods, passing large clots, and cramping)
• Abdominal bloating and pain
• Bladder infections
• Infertility
• Chronic fluid retention
• Fullness or pressure in the belly (sensation of fullness or pressure in the abdomen)
• Low back pain
• Pelvic discomfort/pain
• Rectal pressure
• Discomfort or pain with sexual intercourse
• Reproductive dysfunction
• An urge to urinate often (urinary frequency)
• Irregular bowel movements or diarrhea during menses

Most Uterine Fibroids are not cancerous and common in women in their 30s and 40s, often with an increase in symptoms in the perimenopausal period.

Research estimate that 60-90% of all fibroids do not cause any symptoms. 

Endometriosis

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is caused by excess growth of endometrial tissue that is not shed during menstruation. The tissue escapes the uterus and spreads, attaching to other areas of the body:

• Ovaries
• Lymph nodes
• Fallopian tubes
• Bladder
• Rectum
• Kidneys and Lungs

It grows abnormally, bleeding severely during the menstrual cycle, from the vagina or rectum, bladder or back through the fallopian tubes, instead of normally through the vagina.

Endometriosis can mean heavy periods and pain all month long and it increases risk for benign uterine and breast fibroids.

Extra! Extra! Note

Breast fibroids are also highly common.
Breast fibroids feel like moveable rubbery nodules near the surface of the breast.

Breast fibroids are known as mammary dysplasia fibroid breasts or fibrocystic breast disease. 

What Causes Uterine Fibroids and Endometriosis:

• Excess levels of estrogen/Deficient progesterone - increase abnormal tissue growth;
• X-Ray's - may cause increased risk for fibroids
• Caffeine - drinking 4-5 cups of coffe a day increases estrogen and triggers fibroid growth
• Commercial meat - eating  hormone-injected red meat doubles the risk of developing uterine fibroids
• Oral contraceptives - may cause breast swelling and aggravate fibroids problems and endometriosis

                     

   
  

How are Uterine fibroids diagnosed?

Through ultrasound or other test that shows pictures of the uterus.

Doctors are not sure what causes fibroids but the female hormones estrogen and progesterone make them grow.

How are Uterine fibroids treated?

By over-the-counter pain medicine (non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-motrin (ibuprofen) or naprosyn), iron supplements, birth control pills/progestins. They will help you feel better and make your periods lighter.

 

Surgical treatments may be used to take out the fibroids:

•  Myomectomy - removal of one or more fibroids;
•  Myolysis -The oblteration of fibroids through electric currents, laser or thermal energy through needles inserted into the fibroids during laparoscopy;
• Endometrial ablation - the intentional destruction of the inner lining (endomtrium) of the uterus performed to eliminate abnormal menstral bleeding;
•  Hysterectomy -surgery to remove the uterus.

Other treatments may involve boring holes into the fibroid with laser fibers, freezing probes called Cryosurgery a procedure called uterine artery embolization (UAE). A technique that uses small beads of a compound called polyvinyl alcohol, which are injected through a catheter into the arteries that feed the fibroid. The beads obstruct the blood supply to the fibroid and starve it of blood and oxygen.

Natural Treatments to Balance Hormones for Fibroids & Endometriosis Relief:

• Low fat, vegetarian diet
• Reduce caffeine (coffee, chocolate and colas) can aggravate fibroids;
• Limited high fat dairy foods like cheese, milk, and ice cream;
• Low fat dairy products - yogurt and kefir;
• Sea greens - dark greens, cantaloupe and olive oil;
• Increase fiber - a natural estrogen balancer.

Whole Herb Formulas (anti-inflammatory/anti-fibroid) for Fibroids and Endometriosis Relief:

• Goldenseal - highly anti-inflammatory, bitter herbs that help the liver to metabolize excess estrogen;
• Cramp bark - specific for menstrual cramping and pain;
• Red raspberry - relives cramping and normalizes the uterus; astringent activity helps normalize menstrual flow;
• False unicorn - uterine and ovarian tonic that helps regulate menstruation;
• Pau d'Arco - a power anti-tumor herb helpful for fibroid reduction;
• Black Cohosh - an estrogen balancer for fibroid relief. Can help normalize organ prolapses;
• Dandelion - helps stimulate the liver to metabolize excess estrogen. Reduces bloat, breast swelling and abdominal congestion.

 

For more information go to www.WebMD.com, www.ucsfhealth.org, www.ufecenter.com, www.Ask.com, www.mayoclinic.com, or www.healthyhealing.com 

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Doc V