Uterine fibroids are noncancerous (benign) tumours that develop in the uterus. As many as 1 in 5 woman may have fibroids during their childbearing years. Fibroids can be so tiny that you need a microscope to see them. However, they can grow very large. They may fill the entire uterus, and may weigh several pounds. Although it is possible for just one fibroid to develop, usually there are more than one.
Symptoms:
- Heavy menstrual bleeding with possible clotting
- Bleeding between periods
- Abdominal fullness, gas or constipation
- Pelvic cramping or pain with periods
- Increase in urinary frequency
- Infertility
- Recurrent miscarriages
Goals of Naturopathic Treatment:
- Fibroids are the result of excess estrogens (both naturally occurring and xenoestrogens) and an imbalance of estrogen relative to progesterone. Therefore the first treatment goal would be to balance these hormones by assisting the liver in detoxifying. This would help to decrease estrogen levels. At the same time, progesterone levels should be increased and this could be done through nutrition and herbal medicine.
- Fibroids are also a result of increased inflammatory processes in the body therefore decreasing inflammation through diet, anti-inflammatory supplements and exercise is also beneficial.