FIBROID - YOUR VARIOUS OPTIONS FOR TREATMENT

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.

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. 

These are natural alternative that work:
1. Ovary Uterus Clean 
2. U-O Clear
3. Nattokinase

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:

Click here for details