What Are Uterine Fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are a common health concern among a major population of women. Uterine fibroids are benign, non cancerous tumours that originate within the uterus. They are also called fibroid tumors, leiomyomas, or myomas. They are made of the same muscle tissues as the uterus, though they tend to be hardened. This is possibly because uterine fibroids contain higher levels of estrogen than the surrounding uterine tissues. Some uterine fibroids may be so small that they can’t be felt even during an internal examination; some may be large enough to make a prominent bulge in your stomach.

The uterus is the perfect location for fibroids to thrive. Firstly, the purpose of the uterus is to hold the fetus. This means, it has the perfect environment for a mass of cells to reproduce and cause a hardened growth. Secondly, there is enough space for multiple fibroids to grow undetected. Apart from these factors, hormonal fluctuations, the thick endometric walls and a good supply of menstrual blood, all together form a hospitable environment for the fibroids to develop and flourish.

Fibroids Types

Uterine fibroids may be of various types, namely:

. The Subserous Fibroid-

This is the most common kind of fibroid. It develops on the outer walls of the uterus and tends to grow bigger and more painful during menstruation.

. The Submusocal Fibroid

This kind of fibroid can be found very deep inside the uterus. Often, the only solution for relief from this type is surgery. It causes excessive bleeding (often leading to hemorrhage) and can cause a lot of pain.

. The Intramural Fibroid

The intramural fibroid grows exactly on the walls of the uterus. It displays the characteristics and symptoms of both subserous and submusocal fibroids.

. The Pedunculated Fibroid

These fibroids are attached to the uterine walls by a stalk like growth referred to as the peduncle. They don’t usually display any symptoms, but can be felt during internal examinations.

Fibroids Causes

There are various factors that underlie the real cause of uterine fibroids. There are primary fibroids causes that contribute to the development of the fibroids in the uterus, and then there are secondary causes that contribute to the aggravation of these present fibroids. There might even be external factors like, emotional upheavals, which disrupt the normal balance of the body and make you vulnerable to such diseases. Some fibroids causes.

1. Genetic Predisposition

The genetic construction in certain women makes them predisposed to abnormal metabolic cell activity. Women suffering from dysfunctional metabolisms are therefore more susceptible to conditions like uterine fibroids than others. Fortunately, such genetic predisposition can be changed. Genetic research shows that genetic constructions can be altered and influenced to one’s advantage. By taking control of the internal and external environments that affect your body, you can reform your actual genetic tendencies and thereby overcome the disease.

2. Poor Dietary Practices

A healthy, complete diet is essential for a fit and active life. This is especially vital for women, as the slightest negligence can greatly affect the body’s internal balance. Thus, low intake of fruits and vegetables and excessive intake of refined carbohydrates and toxic foods create problems like hormonal imbalance, lowered immunity and poor digestion. Under such conditions, uterine fibroids can develop more easily.

3. Weakened Immune System

Poor diet, inadequate rest, stress, toxic accumulation, excessive use of medications- all contribute in lowering the immunity of the body. This makes the body highly vulnerable to the condition as the body cannot work towards balancing the hormones or eliminating the toxic waste within the body.

4. Accumulation of Toxins

In our daily life, we are constantly exposed to toxins- in the food we eat, the water we drink or even the air we breathe. This leads to the accretion of toxins in our blood, lymph, kidneys and colon. These toxins then cause ovary damage, infertility and dysfunctional hormones. Some environmental toxins can even lower one’s progesterone levels. All of these factors greatly increase the body’s susceptibility and make one prone to uterine fibroids.

5. Insulin Resistance

When the cells in one’s body are less responsive towards the insulin hormone, insulin resistance is caused. This negatively impacts the insulin dependent mechanisms in the body. To counter the impassivity of the cells, the pancreas starts producing more and more insulin. Chronically high levels of insulin in the body cause production of male hormones like testosterone and thus stimulate the development of uterine fibroids.

6. Hormones

Uterine fibroids have been known to thrive on hormones like estrogen and progesterone. In fact, the fibroids contain higher levels of estrogen than their surroundings. During pregnancy and menstruation, estrogen levels are at their highest. This is usually the time when the fibroid condition is at its worst. A lot of women have discovered that upon reaching menopause, the fibroids shrink, or sometimes, even disappear.

Fibroids Symptoms

Uterine fibroids symptoms tend to be painful and distressing. Some of these symptoms are:

. Bleeding

This is the most obvious sign to show the presence of fibroids in your uterus. Conspicuous fibroids in the uterus tend to cause a uterine congestion. This leads to blockage of normal menstrual flow, which in turn causes the blood to flow heavily when released. Fibroids can also cause prolonged bleeding, bleeding in between menstrual cycles, heavy clotting and spotting. The bleeding can even be extremely painful. If excessive and prolonged bleeding remains unchecked, it can cause anemia.

. Pain

One in every three women affected with fibroids claim to feel a pain associated with their condition. Since fibroids are foreign to your body, the uterus will often try to expel them from within. This causes excruciating cramps. Again, if a fibroid happens to degenerate because it couldn’t get enough blood, the uterus painfully reacts to the dead cells. Many a times, the stalk like growth, with which the fibroid attaches itself to the uterus, might twist, causing severe pain in and around the pelvic region. Fibroids even cause pain during sexual intercourse. In some cases, the fibroids are so large that they start to press against the muscles of the lower back region causing pain in the back and in the legs.

. Pressure

As fibroids grow in size, they tend to put pressure on the uterus and the abdomen. Large fibroids also put pressure on the urinary bladder as a result of which one feels the urge to urinate frequently. This is a very bothersome uterine fibroid symptom. To make matters worse, many a times, there’s a possibility of the fibroids pressing the uterus against the pelvic bones. This leads to a drastic decline in the flow of urine and subsequently causes serious kidney problems.

. Infertility and Pregnancy Related Problems

As fibroids grow bigger in size and increase in number, they begin to obstruct the sperm from reaching the egg by compressing the fallopian tube. In a case where fertilization does manage to occur, the inflammation in the uterus is so extreme that the fertilized egg is unable to plant itself safely. Due to an increase in estrogen and progesterone levels in the body during pregnancy, there’s a high chance of the fibroids developing further and causing severe discomfort and pain.

. Emotional Upheavals

Very often, the emotional or mental symptoms are completely ignored while only the physical or bodily symptoms are paid attention to. The hormonal imbalances, the painful cramps and the prolonged periods of menstruation very often cause stress, depression and “mood swings”. If you feel frequent emotional upheavals, do not underestimate them as they may very well be signaling the presence of fibroids.

Fibroids Treatment

Despite a long standing faith in the power of allopathic medication and other conventional forms of treatment, more and more people are now opting for natural forms of remedy. Natural remedies for uterine fibroids are an alternative form of treatment that is both safe and reliable. Uterine fibroids, also known as fibroid tumors, leiomyomas, or myomas, develop within the uterus. Women across the globe face this problem in their reproductive years. The popularity of natural treatments specifically for uterine fibroids has risen in the last few years.

Natural treatments for fibroids tend to be much safer compared to conventional medication as they cause little or no side effects. This is because, unlike conventional medication, natural treatments do not interfere with your body’s internal mechanism. If you are looking for natural remedies for your uterine fibroids, these are some of the options available to you:

. Herbs

Using herbal treatment for your fibroids helps in balancing the hormonal activity and strengthening the liver, thereby reducing estrogen levels in the uterus. Herbs also help in dealing with difficulties like heavy bleeding and excruciating cramps. Herbs like vitex, help in lowering estrogen level, while herbs like dandelion root and milk thistle, help in improving liver function. Other herbs like nettle and yellow dock work towards detoxification of the body and help to regulate the heavy bleeding caused due to fibroids.

. Proper Diet

This is possibly the most fundamental treatment among all the natural remedies for uterine fibroids. A diet rich in saturated fats will cause your liver to be dysfunctional and subsequently increase estrogen levels and cause hormonal imbalances. A recommended diet would be one which is low fat and high fiber. Therefore, foods like oats, millet and brown rice, fish, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and soy are advisable. It is safe to avoid dairy products in general. The key factors to ensure are that firstly, your diet is mainly alkaline-forming so as to balance the acidic content in your body and secondly, the food you eat does not overwork your digestive system.

. Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy uses essential oils to increase circulation in and around the pelvic region. This helps in relaxing the uterine muscles and subsequently reduces abdominal cramps. The essential oils of ginger, rose and marjoram are greatly beneficial for relaxing the body, stimulating circulation and balancing the hormones. These essential oils may also be used in therapies like abdominal compresses.

. Meditation

Stress has become a part and parcel of our daily lives. For women, stress can prove to be a catalyst for uterine fibroids. Stress increases blood pressure and causes hormone levels to be erratic, thus aggravating the growth of uterine fibroids. Meditation can go a long way in relaxing the body and calming the mind. It also helps you to deal better with the complications that fibroids entail. While meditating, it is important to inhale and exhale slowly through your nostrils only.

. Exercise

Exercises like aerobic dancing, brisk walking, cycling and running help to reduce stress and blood pressure. Exercises also help in stimulating a healthy blood circulation and relieving muscle tension. This greatly relieves sufferers from abdominal pain associated with menstruation and fibroids. It is advisable to avoid participating in sports like basketball and tennis as they tend to increase the stress levels and, thus, enhance the growth of fibroids.

When using natural remedies for uterine fibroids, it is advisable to utilize a combination of remedies for a wholesome approach to the problem. Thus complementing a proper diet with meditation and exercise will help in dealing with the condition holistically. Holistic treatments work towards strengthening your body from within and thereby equipping your body with the force it needs to fight diseases in general and fibroids in particular. Natural remedies require some dedication and patience. It is important to remember, however, that persistently following these treatments will help in curing the fibroids permanently and prevent the condition from occurring in future.

This article is based on the book, “Fibroids Miracle” by Amanda Leto. Amanda is an author, researcher, nutritionist and health consultant who dedicated her life to creating the ultimate Fibroids solution guaranteed to permanently reverse the root of uterine fibroids, naturally enhance your fertility and dramatically improve the overall quality of your life,  without the use prescription medication and without any surgical procedures. Learn more by visiting her website:
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