FIBROIDS
Uterine fibroids are cause of chronic pelvic pain and discomfort in women. These non-cancerous growths develop in the uterus and can affect 20 to 50% of women over the age of 30. In most cases, fibroids are not a cause for concern. They are made up of muscle cells and other tissue found in and around the wall of the uterus. A fibroid may grow as a single lump or in a multiple mass. They range considerably in size from as small as a seed to as large as a melon.
The cause of fibroids is unclear. However, it is known that they are quite sensitive to hormones. Fibroids can grow slowly and undetected for years and remain small, but equally they may grow rapidly and enlarge quickly. There are a few key factors that can increase the risk of fibroids such as Age, family history, ethnicity, weight and diet.
Fibroids can grow unnoticed
Fibroids can grow unnoticed for a long time without any causing any symptoms. Yet many women experience a range of symptoms. The most common include: painful/heavy periods, bleeding between periods, fullness or bloating in the lower abdomen, constipation, frequent urination, pain during sex, lower back pain, leg pain, pregnancy complications and reproductive issues, including infertility, repeat miscarriages, and preterm labour, so it’s important to get any of these symptoms checked out by your GP so they can arrange a scan to confirm whether fibroids are the cause.
In isolation it may not be the first thing we’d think about which is why it’s important to check. Speaking from experience…!!
In many cases, fibroids shrink on their own, especially after menopause. They may not even need treatment unless the symptoms are unmanageable. There are several treatment options available. Changes to diet, weight loss, vitamins and supplements, blood pressure management, herbal remedies, reflexology, acupuncture, massage and other complimentary therapies, yoga and exercise, warm compresses can often help treat fibroids and relieve some symptoms.
A combination of these lifestyle additions or alterations are also important in the prevention of fibroids.
FIBROIDS
Natural treatments may or may not help fibroid symptoms, since relief depends on the severity symptoms are and how the fibroids progress. Often a combination of therapies can help. Symptomatic fibroids can be treated with hormonal medications, ultrasound therapy, surgery, and other treatments.
Some medications are used to help shrink the fibroids to ease symptoms. Other medication may help to balance the hormones to manage the growth and symptoms. There are a variety of surgical treatment options that involve removing just the fibroids or in more severe cases, a hysterectomy maybe required.
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See you soon,
Sally
