Uterine Fibroids: How to Get Rid of Them?

What are fibroids?

Fibroids can range in size from a seed to a grapefruit and form in a variety of locations throughout the uterus. Non-cancerous growths of muscle and connective tissue are known as uterine fibroids. They are frequent, especially in reproductive years, and can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, or pressure, but many women have no symptoms. Benign uterine smooth muscle tumors are called leiomyomas or myomas. Alters up to 50% of women by age. Not cancerous and rarely malignant.

Causes and Risks

• The reason is unknown.
• Risk factors: A family history
• Obesity
• A diet high in red meat
• Estrogen and progesterone boost growth.

Symptoms

Only certain fibroids cause symptoms. When they do:

• Heavy or protracted menstruation
• Pressure or discomfort in the pelvic area
• Painful back
• Urinating often
• Sex pain and potential fertility difficulties may occur.

Diagnostics: 

• Pelvic exam
• MRI, ultrasound
• Sometimes, laparoscopy or hysteroscopy

Treatment Choices

• Wait and see: Small, asymptomatic fibroids rarely need treatment.
• Medications
• Advil and acetaminophen relieve pain
• Hormonal therapies (GnRH agonists, progestins)
• Anaemia iron supplements

Procedures:

• Uterine artery embolization (fibroid blood blockage)
• Surgery to remove fibroids
• Hysterectomy (terminal uterine removal)

Prognosis/Prevention

• Lower hormone levels reduce fibroids after menopause.
• Weight and diet may minimize the risk, but this is not guaranteed.

Quick Management Approach Comparison

• Watchful waiting: No intervention needed. Symptoms may develop later 
• Medications: Mild symptoms, anemia. Non-invasive symptom relief.  Temporary effect, fibroids regrow 
• Uterine embolization: Moderate symptoms, fertility preservation.  Minimally invasive.  May not work for all fibroids 
• Myomectomy: Symptomatic women wanting fertility.  Removes fibroids, preserves uterus.  Surgery risks, recurrence possible 
• Hysterectomy:  Severe symptoms, no fertility desire.  Definitive cure: Major surgery, loss of fertility 

Are uterine fibroids harmful?

Although uterine fibroids are usually harmless, they can cause serious health issues like heavy bleeding (leading to anaemia), pelvic pain/pressure, infertility, and pregnancy complications, especially if large or in certain locations. Treatment is needed to manage symptoms and prevent blocked fallopian tubes or preterm delivery. Although harmless, big or symptom-causing fibroids may be malignant; thus, identification is vital.

Concerns regarding fibroids stem from their symptoms and complications, rather than their intrinsic hazard.

• Heavy bleeding can cause severe anemia, tiredness, and blood transfusions.
• Pressure, pain: Extreme pelvic pain, abdominal swelling, or organ pressure.
• Infertility, premature labor, and C-sections can result from embryo implantation issues.
• Small ones can cause problems if in the uterine cavity (submucosal) or blocking fallopian tubes, but huge ones (>5 cm) are more likely to cause complications.
• Emergency Signs (Seek Help)
• Abdominal pain strikes suddenly.
• Excessive bleeding was accompanied by dizziness or weariness.

How to detect fibroids at home

You can check for fibroids at home by monitoring symptoms like heavy/painful periods, bloating, pelvic pressure, frequent urination, back/pelvic pain, or constipation and gently feeling your lower abdomen for unusual firmness or a mass, but a doctor's diagnosis (often with an ultrasound) is necessary because these symptoms overlap with other conditions

Checks at Home:

• Palpating the abdomen: Press on your lower belly gently to feel for lumps, swelling, or a feeling of fullness when you're not pregnant.
• Keep track of your period's heaviness, duration, and pain. Excessive or intermenstrual bleeding may be a clue.
• Take note of whether you're urinating more frequently, having trouble emptying your bladder, experiencing constipation, or having rectal pressure.

Watch for these symptoms:

• Period changes: Heavy bleeding (soaking pads/tampons quickly), extended periods, severe cramps, and bleeding between periods.
• Pelvic/Abdominal Pressure: Lower abdominal fullness, bloating, or enlargement.
• Urinary issues: frequent urination, bladder emptying problems, and unexpected urges.
• Constipation or stool issues.
• Pain: Lower back, pelvic, or sexual pain.

Refer to a Doctor: 

• These symptoms may indicate other serious illnesses; thus, self-diagnosis is not sufficient.
• A doctor can examine you, inquire about your menstrual cycle, and order an ultrasound to confirm the fibroids' size and location.

7 fibroid-reducing meals

• Spinach, kale, and Swiss chard: high in iron (fights anemia from severe bleeding), fibre, and estrogen-detoxifying chemicals.
• Cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage): Indole-3-carbinol promotes liver function and estrogen excretion, lowering inflammation.
• Lignans, phytoestrogens in flaxseeds and seeds, regulate hormones and enhance estrogen metabolism.
• Pomegranates, berries, and papayas are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory chemicals, including ellagic acid.
• Legumes (Beans, Lentils, Chickpeas): High in fiber, protein, and phytoestrogens to reduce estrogen.
• Whole Grains (Oats, Brown Rice): Fiber, B vitamins, magnesium, and zinc stabilize blood sugar and hormones.
• Green Tea and Spices (Turmeric, Ginger): Antioxidants EGCG and curcumin in green tea and turmeric may reduce fibroid growth.

These foods assist in controlling fibroids' hormonal milieu by binding to excess estrogen for removal, lowering inflammation, promoting liver detoxification, and delivering necessary minerals.

The video explains an easy way to reduce fibroids.

What's the fastest way to decrease fibroids?

The fastest way to decrease fibroids is by using surgical procedures like Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) or Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA), which cut off blood flow or utilize heat to destroy tissue. Note that diet and supplements like Vitamin D, green tea, and fiber can manage symptoms and decrease development, but they are slower than these minimally invasive therapies for considerable shrinking.

Quick medical procedures

• UFE: Particles block blood supply to fibroids, shrinking them quickly in a minimally invasive outpatient surgery. Recovery takes a few days to a week.
• Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): Heats and destroys fibroid tissue with minimal downtime and immediate symptom relief.
• MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound (FUS): Destroys fibroids with high-intensity ultrasound waves, allowing normal activity the next day. Long-term effects are unknown.

Short-Term Hormone Therapy

GnRH-a (Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonists): Causes temporary menopause and shrinks fibroids quickly, but side effects limit its use to a few months as a "bridge" before surgery.

Slower, supportive diet and lifestyle

• Increase Fiber and Vitamin D: Leafy greens, fruits, whole grains, fatty salmon, and fortified dairy may control hormones.
• Green Tea: Antioxidants in green tea may decrease fibroids and reduce symptoms, claim studies and reviews.
• Reduce inflammation with broccoli, cauliflower, flaxseeds, and turmeric.

Important Note: If you wish to get pregnant, visit a doctor to identify the best therapy for your fibroids and health concerns, as choices differ in efficacy and suitability.

Natural fibroids reduction with diet

• Diet changes alone are unlikely to reduce cyst size. However, good eating can reduce discomfort and improve health.
• A balanced diet of anti-inflammatory and hormone-balancing foods may inhibit fibroids' growth.
• This technique, along with medical treatments or procedures advised by doctors, provides a comprehensive approach to managing your disease. Working with doctors to create a customised plan for specific symptoms and concerns is crucial.

Uterine fibroids complications

• While significant consequences from fibroids are rare, they can cause health problems. Anemia—a lack of red blood cells—is one of the most common complications of fibroids. Left untreated, it can cause fatigue, dizziness, trouble breathing, and a rapid heartbeat.
• Other less common fibroid issues are location and size. Larger tumors near the bladder that block the kidney's urine can harm the kidneys. Larger cervical tumours can cause pregnancy loss and preterm labor.
• Fibroids increase infertility and cesarean section rates.
• Mount Sinai says various illnesses might produce heavy or irregular menstrual flow, another uterine fibroid symptom. Unusual vaginal bleeding may be caused by hormone changes, sexually transmitted diseases, thyroid dysfunction, cervical or uterine irritation, or malignancy.

Conclusion

Even though fibroids won't kill you, they can make a woman's life a lot harder. You don't have to be a woman to have fibroids or their effects. We need to expect more from ourselves. Women should be able to speak up and get answers when they need to. They shouldn't have to suffer in silence.