WHAT ARE UTERINE FIBROIDS?
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths that form from smooth muscle tissue in the uterus. Uterine fibroids are the most common tumors found in females, normally in their reproductive years.
It’s possible for multiple fibroids to grow and result in heavy, painful periods. Other common symptoms include pain during sex and frequent urination. Fibroids can interfere with conception and pregnancy, although the risk is small.
The National Uterine Fibroids Foundation confirms that up to 80 percent of women may have uterine fibroids. In the majority of cases, a woman will not have any symptoms. Roughly 25 percent of women may have symptoms severe enough to require treatment. Remember, most women with uterine fibroids don’t have any symptoms.
If the condition progresses, symptoms may include:
- Abnormal uterine bleeding
- Heavy, painful periods
- Prolonged periods
- Spotting between periods
- Iron deficiency anemia, related to heavy bleeding
- Severe pain, related to deteriorating fibroids
- Pressure or pelvic pain
- Pressure on the bladder
- Pressure on the rectum or pain during bowel movement
WHAT IS THE TREATMENT FOR UTERINE FIBROIDS?
Although common, the exact cause of fibroids is unclear, but related to oestrogen dominance. Thus, during the menopause, fibroids can shrink. While medication may be recommended, it may curb bleeding but not address the fibroids and can still give side-effects.. Lifestyle changes and nutritional therapy are effective options that can re-balance hormone levels and can help to regulate uterine fibroids and prevent them from growing in the future.
Your physician may offer several treatment options; surgery to remove the fibroids, medications that that risk side effects, or low-dose oral contraceptives to regulate hormone levels.
The National Uterine Fibroids Foundation reveals that roughly half of hysterectomies are performed to treat uterine fibroids.
A hysterectomy is a drastic, invasive medical procedure to remove the entire uterus, taking fibroids with it. Obviously, once the uterus is removed, a woman will no longer be able to bear children. If a hysterectomy is performed during reproductive years, a woman loses her chances to complete her family.
It is shocking to hear that 37 percent of all women will undergo a hysterectomy by the age of 60.
More than one third of women will have their uterus removed. After this “surgical menopause,” hormone replacement therapy may be recommended, with the burden of side effects that can resemble PMS—like swollen breasts, nausea, and headaches.
In more extreme cases, surgery may be the only choice, but for the majority of women with mild to moderate uterine fibroids, lifestyle and diet changes are the first course of action. Even physicians acknowledge that lifestyle changes can offer great relief for reproductive health issues, far before drugs or surgery are ever needed. Even after surgery, fibroids can grow back without a supportive diet, lifestyle and supplement programme to restore long-term reproductive health. Fibroids are not life-threatening, so you may even adopt a natural regime and monitor relief before any drastic measures are taken.
Do not even consider surgery until you have made lifestyle and diet changes:
Commit to a low sugar diet. Sugar and glucose cause hormonal imbalances that feed uterine fibroids. Opt for the hunter/ gatherer diet, rich in vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, nuts, and seeds, without any high-carb, high-sugar foods.
Cut out all starchy carbs and dairy products. This includes breakfast cereals, cookies, pastries, breads, white rice, potatoes, pastas, and milk products.
Eat complex carb alternatives, like quinoa and brown rice.
Limit meat intake. Pasture-fed, organic meats are preferred; moderating meat is recommended to support a healthy body pH, since meats are acidic.
Enjoy more anti-inflammatory oils. This includes olive, hemp, coconut, avocado, and sesame seed oils to calm inflammation and balance reproductive health.
NUTRITIONAL THERAPY IS THE NEXT STEP
Curcumin is a potent compound that can be taken daily to calm inflammation, support healing, and shrink uterine fibroids. Powerful curcumin offers relief for pain and inflammation. Curcumin is antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal.
The “miracle” enzyme serrapeptase works hand-in-hand with curcumin to restore reproductive health. Serrapeptase is anti-inflammatory and has zero side effects. It offers pain and inflammation relief and special help for reproductive disorders.
One serrapeptase user describes her experience, “I suffered Endometriosis on the outside of my uterus, as well as several small fibroids located in my uterus. I had excessive bleeding for four years, with clots and uterine pain. My menses were lengthening to 10 days. I was eating only organic products and staying away from hormone injected foods, such as dairy
and non-free range meat. After I had an endometrial ablation done in November of 2005, they could not remove the fibroids or the endometriosis. So, in February
of 2006, I started on Serrapeptase for a few months. The pain started decreasing almost within the first week! I finally went in October of 2006 for a vaginal partial hysterectomy, and afterward, I was told that there were no fibroids and my cervix and uterus were normal.”
If you fall in the 80 percent of women with uterine fibroids, there is hope. Before you explore invasive surgery or harmful medication, you can restore reproductive health with nutritious foods and supportive supplements.