Conventional
Treatment Options for Fibroid
Some
fibroid require no treatment when it does not affect your quality of life
negatively, when no negative health threatening symptoms are observed and when
it does not bother you psychologically. Once again, I need to reemphasize that alternative approach in treating fibroid requires consistency in taking your supplements for about one year.
Many women want the fibroid completely gone in 2-3months often stop and complain that these supplements are not working but their problem is inpatient. A pelvic scan is the surest prove of the result which should be done every 4 months.
Many women want the fibroid completely gone in 2-3months often stop and complain that these supplements are not working but their problem is inpatient. A pelvic scan is the surest prove of the result which should be done every 4 months.
MEDICAL TREATMENTS OPTIONS
Treatment
for fibroids is usually only preferred if symptoms are quite severe, because
the side effects of prescription hormonal medications are also quite severe.
However, for women who suffer heavy periods because of fibroids, doctors
usually recommend contraceptive pills to regulate estrogen and/or an anti-inflammatory
medication such as ibuprofen to ease menstrual pain and bleeding.
There
are many medical options available for treating fibroids depending on size,
location, and/or effect on your quality of life. These include the followings:
1. HORMONAL THERAPY- BIRTH CONTROL PILLS
a. Birth control pills or contraceptives
have been used for women with heavy and prolonged bleeding. They do not
necessarily work in all cases but it is the commonest option when life becomes
threatened by excessive blood loss. They make the menstrual periods lighter,
shorter and less painful.
The
birth control pills also slows down the growth of the fibroid by regulating
estrogen which is the female hormone that enhances the growth of fibroid.
However, the fibroid still remains and it is not a total solution. The side
effects of the hormones are part of the issues to cope with when using this
therapy.
b. THE USE OF GnRh agonist INJECTIONS (Lupron, Synarel, Busarelin)
This is done by giving the patient
an injection once a month to put the woman in a temporary menopause. The
injection interact with how the brain signals the ovary to produce estrogen by
telling the body to stop estrogen production and the woman's menstrual cycle
also stops.
Since fibroid needs estrogen to develop,
the growth of the fibroid stops and it starts to shrink. However, the fibroid
resumes rapid growth as soon as she stop the injection.
The
danger of this therapy is that a prolonged use may cause a loss of bone disease
called osteoporosis which makes bone brittle and more easily to break. It also
produces pre-menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, headache, fatigue, low sex
drive or loss of libido, dry vagina etc. doctors may recommend it for just
about 3 months before switching to another treatment options because of the
dangers of long term use.
c. I.U.D. CONTAINING PROGESTIN
Research
shows that 90% women using IUD for birth control have less loss of blood during
periods. This is why an IUD containing progestin is used to control fibroid
growth. It is another hormonal therapy with same side effects.
2. SURGERY
When
quality of life is highly threatened and healthy life is becoming compromised,
doctors often recommend surgical operation to alleviate the fibroid symptoms or
remove the fibroid completely. There are different types of surgical procedures
for fibroid depending on the location of the fibroid and the numbers.
Most
common is hysterectomy in which the womb is completely removed especially when
the number of fibroids are many. Since fibroid only grows in the womb, it
offers a permanent solution to the problem.
This
option may be acceptable to women who are through with child bearing. It does
not put a woman into menopause since the ovaries will be left intact but it
stops menses immediately. In some cases,
the woman's cervix may be removed along if her pap smear test shows
abnormalities that could become cancerous in the future. If the ovaries are
removed along with the uterus, hysterectomy causes immediate menopause. Some
complications include Hemorrhage, ovarian failure, loss of bladder function,
urinary incontinence, depression and infections
Another
surgical option is Hysteroscopic resection. In this case the fibroid is shaved
off by a surgical procedure. It is the preferred option for women who still
desire to have children. It is a more challenging procedure and a highly
experienced doctor will be needed if it will be successful.
The
procedure does not stop the growth of new fibroids but the ones shaved off can
no longer re-oocur. It may take up to 5years before new ones become threatening
again. Women who have had such surgical procedures are often advised to have
their babies by C-section if they get pregnant after the surgery.
3. UTERINE ARTERY
EMBOLIZATION (UAE)
This methods
involved cutting off the blood supply to the fibroid by introducing a clot into
the blood vessel that supplies the fibroid. Once the fibroid is starved of
blood and nutrients, it automatically starts to shrink.
It
is better called Uterine Fibroid embolization because the clot is introduced to
particular fibroid artery and not the uterine main artery. Only the fibroid
whose blood supply is blocked will shrink. It is a preferred option when the
fibroid is only one and excessively too big.
This
also does not stop the growth of another fibroid. In 25% of patients, the
symptoms return as another fibroid may grow again. Women who still desire to
have children are often advised to avoid this as it raises the incidence of
miscarriage. Some pains will be associated with this but it's usually treated
with pain relieving medications. Menopause may also occur. However, the success
rate is about 90%.
4. MAGNETIC RESONANCE GUIDED FOCUS ULTRASOUND
This
is a new technology. The woman is placed in a magnetic resonance machine which
focuses rays on a particular point on the fibroid to burn it.
Discuss with your medical practitioner before adopting natural alternative options.
4. Serrapeptase
5. DIM
6. Vitamin D 3
7. Molasses
8. Lugol iodine
9. MMS1
10. Liver Detox
To know more about these options, go to the link below: