Bottom Line Health
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| Although the cause of these tumors is unknown, recent research has linked them to a genetic mutation. fibroids are almost always benign and often produce no symptoms.
However, fibroids can cause extremely heavy or frequent menstrual flow (sometimes leading to anemia).. .chronic pain.. .bloating.. .pressure on the bladder and other internal organs...infertility. ..and/or abdominal swelling. In these cases, surgery is often the best solution. Procedures to consider...
•Myomectomy. |
Mark Stengler, N.D.
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 Uterine Fibroids
Vitex is one of the better herbs to use for uterine fibroids. It helps to keep the fibroids from enlarging in mild to moderate cases. If a woman can keep the symptoms at bay until she is past menopause, the fibroids will shrink on their own, due to the decrease of estrogen. While I don't recommend vitex as a general preventative, I will recommend it in some cases.
Fortunately, most fibroids do not cause symptoms. For severe cases, we recommend natural progesterone. In a small number of cases, surgery is required. |
Bottom Line Health
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| An even less invasive technique than laparoscopic myomectomy, hysteroscopy is now being used for some submucus fibroids, which protrude inside the uterine cavity. (Many fibroids are embedded in the uterine muscle.)
How it works: After the cervix is dilated, a hysteroscope is passed through the cervix into the uterus, which is inflated with gas or fluid to provide a better view. Because dilation is painful, a local or regional anesthetic is usually administered. |
| In a hysteroscopy, fibroids are removed using an electrosurgical tool that burns the tissue so that the fibroids can be removed in pieces. The procedure, which requires no incision, is performed on an outpatient basis, and recovery takes two to three days.
•High-frequency ultrasound. This is a promising experimental procedure.
How it works: While the patient lies in a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner, a doctor uses the image to aim heat-producing, high-frequency ultrasound beams at the tumor to destroy it. |
| It can only be performed on fibroids that are small enough to pass through the vagina. Vaginal hysterectomy can also be performed with laparoscopic assistance.
Reducing Fibroid Risk
Fibroids—benign tumors of the uterus—are dependent on the hormone estrogen for growth. To minimize risk...
•Keep your body-fat percentage down through good diet and exercise. The more body fat you have, the higher your estrogen levels are likely to be.
•Eat a high-fiber diet that includes lots of cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and cauliflower. |
Andreas Moritz
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 Of course, there are also a number of natural methods, like the ones explained in this book, that can be used to prevent and remove fibroids and other reproductive disorders. Balancing estrogen levels through liver cleansing and dietary changes is very important for any woman suffering from female disorders. It is a well-known fact that fibroids tend to shrink and disappear after menopause when estrogen levels decrease. The liver is in charge of breaking down estrogen, but is prevented from doing so properly when it is congested with intrahepatic gallstones. |
| Most fibroids develop when congestion of the cisterna chyli vessels (a group of sac-like lymph vessels located in the middle of the abdomen) prevents the proper drainage of metabolic waste products and dead, turned-over cells from the female reproductive organs. In most cases, there is also a history of constipation. By addressing the underlying causes of fibroids, the reproductive organs can resume their full functions. Having a hysterectomy, on the other hand, is not without risks. The mortality rate is 1 in 1,000 procedures, and serious complications occur 15 times more frequently than that. |
Dr. Steven R. Gundry
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 Beverly appeared healthy, but suffered from uterine fibroids that had required a hysterectomy.
As expected, despite being on medications, Chip's blood test showed all the evidence of killer-gene activation: high insulin level, signs of diabetes, high triglycerides, and high cholesterol levels, as well as signs of inflammation. Beverly was right to be concerned: the gun was loaded, cocked, and ready to fire! Beverly's labs were much better than Chip's, but her lipoprotein(a), perhaps the most dangerous form of "cholesterol," was very high. |
Marshall Editions
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 Acupuncture: Treatment can be used to shrink fibroids. Consult a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine who will evaluate your particular case according to the principles of Chinese medicine to determine the best approach. One course of treatment consists of 12, 30-minute acupuncture sessions. The practitioner will determine the frequency of sessions required, depending on the condition and prognosis.
Acupressure: Press the Xue Hai, Feng Shi, Susanli, and San Yin Jiao acupressure points. The Xue Hai point is on the inside of the leg, at the depression just above the knee. |
| This condition can be caused by pelvic inflammatory disease, fibroids, and endometriosis. Occasionally, a particularly heavy period can actually be a miscarriage, in which case you may need to have a surgical procedure known as dilation and curettage (D&C).
SYMPTOMS
TREATMENT GOAL
• Irregular or absent periods
• Heavy or light periods
• Abdominal pain
Treatment of menstrual disorders depends on the type and cause of the condition.
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^^P^^^ Treatment involves first ruling out serious causes of menstrual disorders. |
| NATUROPATHY
Diet: fibroids are affected by hormones, which are in turn affected by diet. Base your diet around whole grains, fruit, vegetables, fish, beans, and fermented soy products. It is important to eat organic products as much as possible because some of the chemicals used to fumigate foods mimic estrogen activity. If you have heavy periods, eat foods that have high amounts of iron such as blackstrap molasses, liver, and organic, grass-fed beef. Drink eight glasses of water a day to help flush out impurities. |
Bill Sardi
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 Med Hypotheses 59:751-6, 2002]
Aromatase inhibitors are being promoted not only for breast cancer treatment, but for uterine fibroids and endometriosis as well as male prostate cancer. [Cancer Investigations 19: 649-59, 2001]
Combinations of Tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors have not been shown to be advantageous. [Forum 12: 45-59, 2002]
Since aromatase inhibitors strongly reduce production of estrogen, they may induce calcifications throughout the body. |
| Primary use: after 5-year Tamoxifen therapv or in place of Tamoxifen; combined or alternate use with Tamoxifen of no extra benefit; potential use as 1 st preventive breast cancer drug; possible use for uterine fibroids, endometriosis, prostate cancer; not indicated for premenopausal women with breast cancer who have normal ovarian function nor for women with estrogen or progesterone-receptor-negative tumors.
Action: blocks entry of estrogen into cells; does not impair estrogen production.
Increases fertility; evidence this drug acts as a pro-estrogen over time. |
Andreas Moritz
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| The other 85 percent are due to uterine fibroids, endometriosis, or other causes of pelvic pain and excessive bleeding. Thousands of women every year have a full hysterectomy (including the removal of the ovaries), but have not given their consent prior to the surgery. Only a few of them make use of the law to seek compensation, but money cannot return a woman's uterus, which is symbolic of womanhood.
Even from a surgical perspective, a woman has less invasive and traumatic options. |
| By addressing the underlying causes of fibroids, the reproductive organs can resume their full functions. Having a hysterectomy, on the other hand, is not without risks. The mortality rate is 1 in 1,000 procedures, and serious complications occur 15 times more frequently than that. Side effects can occur in more than 40 percent of operations; they include urinary retention or incontinence, significant reduction in sexual response, early ovarian failure, risk of a fatal blood clot and bowel problems. |
| The researchers indicated that such damage is a possible predictor of reproductive diseases in women, including fibroids, endometriosis, cystic ovaries and cancers. Earlier studies linked low dose BPA to female reproductive-tract disorders, as well as early-stage prostate and breast cancer, as well as decreased sperm counts in animals.
BPA is found in polycarbonate plastic baby bottles, large water-cooler containers and sports bottles, microwave-oven dishes, canned-food liners, and some dental sealants for children. |
Bottom Line Health
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| How it works: A laparoscope (a thin, lighted viewing tube) and other instruments are introduced through a small (less than 1 inch) abdominal incision. The fibroids are cut into fragments small enough to be removed through the abdominal incision or another small incision made through the vaginal wall. Most women can sustain a pregnancy after they have undergone laparoscopic myomectomy.
However, there is increased risk of uterine rupture at delivery because the laparoscopic closure of the uterine muscle may not be as effective as in a standard myomectomy. |
Tori Hudson, N.D.
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 Uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and prolapse of the uterus are the most frequent reasons for these surgeries in women aged 15 years and older. With new laparoscopic-assisted hysterectomies, ovaries are removed more easily (and this is unfortunate if the ovaries are healthy) and removal of the ovaries has increased significantly, from 20.4 percent in 1994 to 42.5 percent in 1999.
When the ovaries are removed, the onset of menopause is immediate. |
| Uterine artery embolization is designed to reduce fibroids by obstructing the blood supply that nourishes them. The procedure is done by a radiologist in the x-ray department. It entails making a small incision in the groin and threading a small catheter into the femoral artery. The doctor works the catheter up to the vessels that supply the uterus under guidance with dye and x-rays. Microscopic plastic particles are injected to close off the uterine vessels, temporarily creating a condition of shock for the uterus. |
| There is really no reason to remove either ovaries or cervix to treat the symptoms of fibroids. By leaving rhe cervix, the normal length and sensations of the vagina are maintained. With a vaginal hysterectomy, the entire uterus, including the cervix, is removed. In either case, the decision to leave the ovaries depends on the patient and her doctor. Most doctors would recommend leaving ovaries in women under 45 and might recommend removing them in women over 45 because they will soon be menopausal, oftentimes to prevent ovarian cancer. |
Marshall Editions
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| These include abnormalities of the uterus such as fibroids (see p. 734) and polyps, both of which would generally be treated surgically. Certain sexually Vy transmitted diseases, such as chlamydia, can also cause abnormal bleeding, 'I" as can intra-uterine contraceptive devices. Some types of cancer, as well as disorders of the urinary system and rectum, can cause spotting, and these will need to be ruled out. A doctor will carry out a detailed history and a physical examination of the pateint to make sure the above conditions do not exist before determining a I treatment plan. |
Ron Garner
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 In premenopausal women, symptoms can include: fatigue, depression, weight gain, water retention, headaches, loss of sex drive, mood swings, inability to handle stress, irritability, fibrocystic breasts, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, low metabolism, symptoms of hypothyroidism, unstable blood sugar levels, sluggishness in the morning, and a craving for caffeine, sweets, and carbohydrates. |
C. W. Randolph, M.D.
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 In women, elevated estrogen levels have been linked to an increased risk for endometriosis and fibroids as well as breast and uterine hormone-dependent cancers. (In hormone-dependent cancers, a tumor requires hormones, specifically estrogen, in order to grow. The medical term for such tumors is estrogen receptor-positive.) In men, estrogen dominance has been linked to an increased risk of hormone-dependent prostate cancer.
An increasing number of studies link exposure to environmental estrogens to an increased risk of cancer. |
Marshall Editions
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| In women, it can be associated with menstrual problems, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and fibroids. It can also be triggered by stress and anxiety.
SYMPTOMS
TREATMENT GOAL
• Abdominal pain or cramps
• Abdominal bloating
• Feeling constipated
• Possible nausea
To establish the cause of the stomachache and treat it accordingly to bring relief of symptoms.
T
Stomach pain is not a medical condition but a symptom of an underlying illness. As such there is no medical protocol for treating stomachache, however, steps can be taken to relieve symptoms until the cause is determined. |
David Winston, RH(AHG), and Steven Maimes
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 It frequently is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat women with gynecological problems such as painful menstruation, erratic or abnormal uterine bleeding, fibroids, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and menopausal sweating. Because it builds the blood and yin, it enhances circulation and promotes cognitive function.
I use white peony to improve memory and reduce menopausal "brain fog." It can help prevent dementia related to Alzheimer's disease when used with bacopa, ginkgo, and other cerebral circulatory stimulants. |
Bottom Line Health
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| Currently the preferred treatment for women who want to keep their reproductive options open, this procedure removes fibroids but retains the woman's uterus to allow for pregnancy.
How it works: A surgeon makes an abdominal incision, cuts the fibroid out and repairs the wall of the uterus using sutures.
•Laparoscopic myomectomy. This procedure is less invasive than the standard myomectomy, but it may not be advisable if the fibroid is too large. |
Marshall Editions
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| Soy products and flaxseeds are good sources of phyto-estrogens, which are thought to help prevent fibroids. Avoid sugar, alcohol, caffeine, and foods that contain hydrogenated fats to avoid inflammation. These foods also depress your immune system.
736
Supplements: A high-potency multivitamin supplement supplies nutrients important in estrogen metabolism. Take them as directed on the label. B-complex vitamins are also necessary for estrogen metabolism. Take 100 mg twice a day. Take 400 IU of vitamin E to helps with inflammation. |
Tori Hudson, N.D.
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| In this section, I will largely be discussing the traditional naturopathic methods of trying to reduce the size of uterine fibroids or to inhibit their growth. These recommendations are based more on tradition, theory, logic, and clinical experience than on scientific evidence.
Lipotropic Factors. Supplements such as inositol and choline exert a lipotropic effect, meaning they promote the removal of fat from the liver. |
Andreas Moritz
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| Agnus castus is known for safely removing fibroids, cysts and endometriosis. Taking 25-35 drops of agnus castus tincture with water each day for three months can normalize and stabilize female hormone production. Another effective natural alternative to HRT is pfaffia. Wild yam root, applied topically, may relieve hot flashes almost immediately. Evening primrose oil also helps the ovaries maximize their output of estrogen during the early stages of menopause. |
Tori Hudson, N.D.
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| These include Lupron and Synarel, which are usually given to suppress menses in the case of endometriosis and to shrink fibroids before surgery. Menopausal symptoms tend to be not as severe as in surgical menopause but worse than natural physiologic menopause.
Fortunately, all of the sex hormones are not lost with menopause or even with surgical menopause. For example, about 50 percent of our testosterone comes from the ovaries and adrenal glands; the other 50 percent comes from many different parts of the body, including the liver, the skin, and the brain. |
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