While there is no foolproof way to avoid fibroids, once you have been diagnosed with these benign tumors, there are certain foods that may help. And there are others to avoid, since dietary changes may help keep tumor growth in check.
Why is this the case? Balancing your hormone levels can help manage fibroid development and symptoms since hormones, particularly estrogen, are one of the leading causes of new fibroid development and growth. And one easy, non-invasive way to balance your hormones is through simple changes in your diet. With that in mind, check out the best and worst foods for fibroids, so you can start planning your lifestyle changes!
Worst Foods for Fibroids
If you are trying to manage your fibroids and maintain or shrink their current size, balancing your hormones naturally is a great first step. Your diet has a strong influence on your hormone levels, which is why it’s one of the first (and easiest) areas to apply changes.
For best results in managing your fibroids, try restricting the following food and drinks from your diet.
Worst Foods for Fibroids: What to Eliminate
- High-Fat, Processed Meats - Red processed meat is known to be high in added hormones, particularly estrogen.
- High-Fat Dairy Products - Conventional dairy can contain high levels of steroids, hormones, and other chemicals that promote inflation.
- Foods High in Salt - Highly salted foods are hard on your liver, which is the organ that is most responsible for removing toxins and balancing hormones.
- Refined Carbohydrates - White foods such as pasta, white bread, white rice, cakes, and cookies have been known to alter estrogen levels, causing fibroids to increase in size. Boxed cereals, potato chips and anything with corn syrup can also cause problems, because they raise your blood sugar levels, triggering your body to produce more insulin.
- Foods containing Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) - While the facts are uncertain, some evidence links this flavor enhancer (common in takeout food) to obesity and weight gain. And, since obesity messes with your hormone levels, it can increase your fibroid risk.
- Soy. Soy contains phytoestrogens. These are compounds that act like estrogen in your body. While this may be helpful if you battle low estrogen levels, they are a fibroid challenge. That’s because high estrogen levels seem to boost fibroid growth. Plus, new research reveals a soy-heavy diet can reduce female fertility, trigger early puberty and impact fetal development. For that reason, you may wish to limit soy intake even if your fibroid risk is low!
- Refined Sugar - High consumption of sugar can result in inflammation and weight gain; there is an association between weight gain and hormone imbalance.
- Caffeine - Too much caffeine puts additional stress on your liver, discouraging the organ from working the way it should (think: balancing hormones!)
- Alcohol - Over-consumption of alcohol can lead to inflammation of the body and reduced immune function. Reducing or eliminating alcohol can help promote a healthy balance of hormones.
Best Foods to Eat With Fibroids
If you're already feeling restricted just looking at the list above, don't panic: there are so many options that can help you fill the gaps you're eliminating. And, according to a new study in Nutrients, the science reveals that they can help reduce fibroid risk or manage fibroid symptoms. Added bonus? They may just help improve your general health while helping keep fibroids in check:
- Organic foods
- High fiber foods, including cruciferous veggies like broccoli. (These can curb your appetite, so you eat less and may lose weight. And that's important, because losing weight can curb fibroid symptoms.)
- Green leafy vegetables
- Beta-carotene rich foods (such as carrots and sweet potatoes). These can also help boost your fertility, something that can be impacted by fibroid growth.
- Food high in iron (such as grass-fed beef and legumes)
- Flaxseeds
- Quinoa
- Whole grains
- Citrus like apples and oranges. Studies show that women who eat two or more servings of citrus fruit each day lower their fibroid risk.
- Berries, kiwi and pineapple
- Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish
- Green tea
Supplements may also help shrink or maintain fibroid size. Vitex, fish oil, and B-complex are a few supplements that have been known for creating a better hormone balance. Additionally, the fatty acids in fish oil (or cold water fish) may help fight inflammation that could contribute to fibroid growth. Be sure to speak with your physician before introducing new supplements into your diet.
Possible Benefits from Chinese Medicine Roots
While research in this area is less available, certain herbal preparations may help you manage fibroid symptoms. These herbs may help manage fibroid size:
- cinnamon twig
- poria
- peony root and red peony root
- peony root bark
Also, compounds in green tea may help shrink fibroid size. And taking castor oil could help you relieve fibroid-related constipation.
Fibroid Friendly Recipe
Want to cook up something that may help your fibroids? Try this delicious recipe, courtesy of the Food Network.
Ingredients
- Rainbow carrots
- Olive oil
- Kosher salt
- Chives
Directions
Toss 3 bunches baby rainbow carrots, 1 tablespoon olive oil and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt on a baking sheet; arrange in a single layer. Roast at 450 degrees F, turning once, until tender and slightly browned, 15 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and chopped chives.
When Your Diet Isn't Enough to Control Your Fibroids
Your diet and lifestyle can only do so much in your attempt to manage your fibroids. If you suffer from common fibroid symptoms such as heavy periods, bloating, frequent urination, constipation, and pelvic pain, Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) may be the next best option.
UFE is a low-risk, minimally-invasive procedure for the treatment of uterine fibroids. Women commonly choose UFE over a hysterectomy for fibroid removal as it avoids surgery, preserves the uterus, controls symptoms, and improves quality of life. Click here to request an appointment.
Sometimes, it's hard to get your fibroids diagnosis. First of all, about 40 percent of women with uterine fibroids don't have any symptoms. Often, women with uterine fibroids do develop symptoms. These include long, heavy periods; weight gain; bloating; constipation and pelvic pain.
But what if you already experienced many of those symptoms, because you were carrying extra weight? Or because of other conditions? Or what if you just had no idea that your symptoms were anything but a normal, if unpleasant, part of being a woman? It would certainly make it harder to recognize an abnormal (but non-cancerous) tumor in your uterus. And it could help explain why up to 35% of women with these symptoms delay seeking medical help until their lives become severely disrupted!
Aside from causing needless discomfort, delays in diagnosis can result in further health concerns. Because, as your fibroids grow larger, symptoms such as heavy bleeding can grow worse, leading to anemia or even unnecessary surgery. Want to make sure that doesn't happen? Keep reading for helping with earlier symptom detection!
Missed Fibroid Symptoms
For one woman from Wales, that was exactly what happened. Tina Mathias, at her heaviest, weighed almost 340 pounds. She suffered from chronic back pain and constipation, but when she shared these symptoms with her doctor, they were considered a byproduct of her poor diet and excess weight.
At the time, Tina assumed her doctors were correct. "My periods were normal which is why I didn’t think it was a problem with my reproductive system," she says.
In the hopes of improving her health and alleviating her worst symptoms, Tina set out on a weight loss journey. She was extremely successful, dropping 182 pounds, but her problems didn't resolve.
“I’d lost so much weight and I thought I’d be healthier, but the pain in my lower back, sides and abdomen carried on,” she says. “Then it got so bad that I couldn’t get out of bed and I would wince if my husband touched me."
Still, Tina didn't think her problems could be caused by fibroids. She simply continued eating healthfully, trying to lose more weight and hoping to feel better.
A Familiar Story
Nkem Osian is a Nigerian American who spent months living with heavy periods. She told Verywell Health that she waited to see her doctor because, "Talking about reproductive health was always taboo. Although I knew that my mother and sisters had experienced heavy periods, it wasn't something that we ever really discussed. So when my periods started changing in my late twenties, I felt like it was just part of being female."
Sadly, like Tina, Nkem delayed seeking help for her symptoms. Even though, she says, "I was bleeding for two weeks at a time, sometimes with significant spotting in between cycles. There were many times when I would bleed through my clothes on the train from my home in New Jersey to my office in New York. It was humiliating, but what could I do? That was just my life."
Even worse? Nkem was passing large clots. And, while we tell patients that clots bigger than a quarter are a sign of concern, Nkem's were even larger. She says, "They were the size of my fist and very painful to pass." Still, she waited to see her doctor. So that, by the time she made an appointment, she was told, "You have a blood level not conducive to life."
Clearly, at that point, Nkem's doctor knew she needed help. But that's not always the case. In fact, some women feel ignored by their physicians. In fact, a recent survey from the Fibroid Foundation found that 37% of women surveyed needed to see two or three different doctors before getting a fibroid diagnosis. Even worse? 15% of the women needed to see as many as five doctors before diagnosis. And a shocking 7% saw over five doctors before finding out what was wrong. Obviously, that can delay your fibroid diagnosis. (And treatment!)
Brush Offs from Doctors Delay Fibroids Diagnosis
That was the case for LaToya Dwight, who also spent years living with fibroid symptoms. Every day, she faced fatigue or bloating. Some days brought painful sex, others saw cramping and constipation. But, despite seeing the same OB-GYN for 12 years, fibroids never entered the conversation. Until she went to get her IUD removed. And her doctor couldn't locate the device inside her uterus!
Lack of Awareness Matters, Too
Sometimes, your doctor isn't at fault for a delayed diagnosis. Instead, society may be to blame. After all, too many women aren't aware of the fact that symptoms such as heavy, long periods are abnormal. And they certainly don't know much about fibroids. For that reason, our fibroid experts in Houston always take part in Fibroid Awareness campaigns. Because, in that way, we can help women reach diagnosis (and treatment) far sooner than they would otherwise.
And here's some good news worth sharing on the diagnosis front. The FDA recently approved a new 3D Modeling Device, called the Fibroid Mapping Reviewer Application. By creating a 3D rendering of the uterus, based off ultrasound images, it helps speed up diagnoses and plan appropriate courses of treatment.
After the Fibroids Diagnosis: Finding Answers
For Tina, answers came when she got thin, and she had a moment that put everything into perspective.
“When I really slimmed down, my belly was still so large. I looked six months pregnant," she says. “Someone in work asked me when the baby was due and that’s when I knew something really wasn’t right.”
Still, doctors didn't immediately figure out what was ailing Tina. They attributed her constipation to a low calorie diet, and didn't think to examine her for fibroids until sex with her husband became extremely painful. Finally, she was sent for a scan, and doctors discovered a nine-pound fibroid, made of muscle and fibrous tissue, that had likely been growing in her uterus for a decade or more!
It was now dangerously close to perforating her bowel, and doctors told her she needed a life-saving hysterectomy. Just 36 at the time, Tina was devastated but, since the tumor was so large and in such a dangerous location, she had no choice. Now 43, Tina has had to give up on her dreams of having a family, but she is living a happy, healthy and pain-free life.
For LaToya, answers came in a different way. When her OB ordered an ultrasound to find the missing IUD, the technician asked her about her fibroids and symptoms. But the problem was, that was the first time anyone told her that she had these growths!
Once LaToya got back to her OB's office, the only guidance she received was to get a hysterectomy. But, unlike Tina, LaToya still had fibroid treatment options. At first, she tried lifestyle changes and eating to help her fibroids. Then, through research, she found out about UFE, and found her minimally-invasive solution.
And Nkem? Well, initially, her doctor found one large fibroid. And put her on birth control to try and manage symptoms. But she developed more fibroids. So, now, she's exploring treatment options instead of managing her symptoms. And she's part of The White Dress project, to help ease the path for other women with fibroids.
Recognizing Fibroid Symptoms
Luckily, LaToya got a happy ending. But the saddest part of this story is that, had someone diagnosed Tina's fibroid earlier on, she could have preserved her fertility. That's why its important for women to know all of the symptoms of fibroids. Its crucial to recognize that, even if your periods are normal, you may still have a problem. You also need to be your own advocate: if your pain persists and your doctor insists its because of your weight, it's not time to give up hope: it's time to get a second opinion.
Or, if your doctor tells you to get a hysterectomy, get a second opinion and do your research! Because the earlier you treat fibroids, the more options that will be available for your treatment. And please remember: we welcome all women to our Houston fibroid treatment practice for second opinion treatment consultations. So schedule your appointment today!
Sources: Dailymail, Healthline
If you have uterine fibroids, you may experience pain, discomfort, or difficulties getting pregnant, among other symptoms. Of course, you may also not experience any symptoms. Your individual experience depends on the size, number and location of your fibroids. So, the question remains: how to deal with fibroids when every woman is unique? Here's a help guide, based on your age and stage of life.
How to Deal with Fibroids in Your 20s
While less common in this decade, women who started their periods before turning 10, and black women, have a higher risk of developing fibroids in their teens and twenties. At this stage of life, you can determine if you have these uterine tumors by noticing changes in your period, including a very heavy flow or severe cramping. If you notice any major changes, especially painful ones, speak up and tell your doctor. That will help with timely treatment and relief.
You may also be able to reduce your future fibroid risk at this time of life. Try to get into a regular exercise routine. And follow a fibroid-friendly diet to help you stay at a healthy weight and reduce your risk for tumors.
Dealing with Fibroids In Your Thirties and Forties
These are the decades when most women will develop fibroids, or start to experience disruptive symptoms. It may also be the state of life when you want to start a family. So, if you have any fibroid symptoms, and you hope to get pregnant, talk to your doctor and get screened. While you can get pregnant with fibroids, the tumors can interfere with conception, fetal growth and delivery. As a result, many women prefer to seek fibroid treatment before trying to start or expand their families.
Now, in your forties, your period can start to change because you're approaching menopause. As such, it can be hard to tell what's going on with your body. Even worse? Perimenopause can worsen fibroid symptoms, since the tumors tend to grow to their largest size in this decade of life. However, since many women have completed their families by this age, you may wish to explore additional treatment options that may not have been appropriate if you were still planning future pregnancies.
Fibroids After Fifty: What to Expect
How to deal with fibroids in your fifties? Luckily, at this stage of life, many women's tumors shrink. And that's thanks to menopause, when your body produces less estrogen and progesterone, usually decreasing fibroid size and resolving your symptoms. Still, some women still experience fibroid symptoms after menopause. So be sure to speak to your doctor if you fall into this category.
How to Deal with Fibroids at Any Age
Regardless of your age, one thing is clear: you do not need to suffer with painful or disruptive fibroid symptoms. Help is available at any age or stage of life. Ready to enter a life phase unbothered by fibroids?
Click here to request an appointment with our fibroid experts in Houston, TX!
If you have fibroids, you may worry about future pregnancy. Uterine fibroids aren't usually cancerous, which is good news. But they grow in your womb, and they're very common during your reproductive years. Fibroids develop as single tumors or as multiple growths. Depending on the type, size, and number of fibroids you have, they could affect your pregnancy.
Recently, Greenleaf star Deborah Joy Winans announced her pregnancy after a fibroids journey. Just a year before announcing her pregnancy, Winans' doctors discovered she had eight large fibroids. While she was considering her treatment options, she also learned she was pregnant.
Right away, she learned this could be a problem. Winans told Essence magazine, "When [the doctor] started to tell me the things that will happen in my body because of the fibroids and the things that the baby might face, I just was like, ‘Okay, this is really, really serious. ”
Just months later, Winans wound up in the ER with terrible pain and vomiting. There, she learned that degenerating fibroids were responsible for her misery. Next, she needed a surgical procedure to close her cervix, which was opening too soon. Following that procedure, bed rest was in order. So, today she says she's simply hoping to carry her baby closer to her due date. "As long as I can get to 28 [weeks]... [my doctor] knows that [the baby will] be good and healthy if he came that early. So, 28 is the goal.”
Of course, delivering her baby isn't ideal. But pre-term labor isn't the only way fibroids affect pregnancy. In fact, studies suggest, they could also impact your health in ways that don't involve your growing fetus.
We hear this question all the time: Can I have a baby with fibroids? We understand: if you have fibroids—non-cancerous tumors that grow in your uterus—you may be worried about your fertility. Will you be able to get pregnant? Or, if you get pregnant, will the fibroids affect your baby’s growth and birth?
It is possible to have a successful pregnancy with fibroids. Unfortunately, though, fibroids can impact your ability to become pregnant or deliver a healthy baby. But that doesn’t mean your dreams of having a family will never come true. Let’s take a closer look.
Getting Pregnant with Fibroids: Will Fibroids Affect My fertility?
Depending on the size and location of your fibroids, the tumors can block sperm from reaching and fertilizing one of your eggs. Fibroids can also make it more difficult for a fertilized embryo to implant in your uterus, especially if they grow on your inner uterine wall or within the cavity.
And, if you do become pregnant, fibroids may impact fetal development if they are located in a spot where your baby should be growing. For these reasons, you may want to treat fibroids before becoming pregnant. But your doctor can better advise you regarding fibroids and your fertility options.
Successful Pregnancy with Fibroids: Can I Still Have a Baby?
Recently, musician Da Brat announced she was expecting her first baby with wife Judy. But she revealed a long path to get there, since she went through IVF and a miscarriage before this pregnancy. Then, before this successful pregnancy, she surgically removed both fibroids and polyps. Afterward, she underwent an embryo transfer and is now pregnant at 48!
While not technically necessary, Da Brat's decision to remove her fibroids prior to pregnancy is wise. After all, if you get pregnant while you have fibroids, your fetus could be affected, as we already mentioned. Previous data showed that fibroids increase your risk for miscarriage, early labor, placental abruption, cesarean sections and post-delivery bleeding.
But it's not all bad news! Luckily, a new study suggests a way to carry your baby without impact. In fact, 90% of participants carried their babies to full term!
The study followed 120 women with large fibroids in their first trimester. Then, those fibroids kept growing during the second trimester. And that's a problem, since about 46% of pregnant women with large fibroids miscarry.
To help these women, researchers divided them into four groups. One group received a cervical procedure and targeted progesterone therapy. Another group received both treatments and a myomectomy. (That's a surgery to remove individual fibroids.) Then, a third group only received progesterone therapy. And the fourth group of women only received traditional maternal medical care.
At the end of the study, results were promising. The women who had cervical procedures and progesterone treatment reduced their miscarriage rate more than two times over compared to just progesterone treatment. And, compared to no-intervention, miscarriage rates dropped by 11.2%.
Of course, this news is promising for pregnant women with fibroids. But some women may prefer to treat fibroids before getting pregnant. Or, you may need to treat your fibroids in order to successfully conceive. So, if that's the case for you, keep reading to learn more about the best fibroid treatment without surgery for family planning.
What treatments should I choose for a successful pregnancy with fibroids?
Thankfully, you have many treatment options when it comes to fibroid tumors. It’s important to talk to a fibroid specialist about your family goals so you can choose the one that’s best for you.
In our Houston fibroid practice, we offer a treatment known as Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE). It is a minimally-invasive, non-surgical option that shrinks and kills fibroids by cutting off their blood supply. The procedure is performed through a catheter inserted through your arm. Particles are injected to the catheter to block the artery feeding your fibroids. Many women who undergo UFE go on to have healthy pregnancies.
Some women who still want to get pregnant may prefer a myomectomy—the surgical removal of your fibroid. If that’s the treatment option you select, you’ll need to give your uterus three to six months of healing time before trying to get pregnant.
One final word of warning, to help you manage your expectations: if you’ve had six or more fibroids removed surgically, research shows that you have a lower chance of getting pregnant than women with fewer fibroids. It’s also important to note that myomectomy may weaken your uterus, so it may be safer to deliver your baby via C-section following this fibroid treatment option.
Even if you don't have your fibroids treated before pregnancy, delivering a baby with fibroids could be complicated. While not the case for every woman, fibroids can block your baby's passage out of the uterus, making a c-section necessary. In some cases, fibroids can cause placental abruption, an emergent situation where the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus. Some women with fibroids experience pre-term labor, while others experience an extended labor process.
While this information may seem frightening, it’s important to remember: you can still get pregnant, with and after fibroids. Stay positive, and click here to request an appointmentto discuss all your treatment options.
After giving birth, some women hemorrhage and doctors need to stop the postpartum bleeding. And quickly, or the new mother could die. Often, doctors perform emergency hysterectomies, saving the mother’s lives but costing them future futility. Still others decide to get proactive about the problem, surgically removing fibroids during a scheduled cesarean section. And, while this does resolve post-partum bleeding, the woman's subsequent pregnancies would be considered high risk. Thankfully, now, a new study suggests a better alternative: UAE (Uterine Artery Embolization.)
What is UAE?
UAE is also called UFE—uterine fibroid embolization—because we use this procedure to treat fibroids. During UAE, we use a slender, flexible tube (catheter) to inject small particles into your uterine arteries, stopping the flow of blood. If you have fibroids, this starves the tumors of their blood supply, and they shrink and die. But if you have postpartum bleeding, it can stop uterine hemorrhaging, and may prevent the need for hysterectomy (removal of the uterus.)
Can UAE Stop Postpartum Bleeding?
A new study from Emory University’s School of medicine suggests it can! Led by Dr. Janice Newsome, researchers learned that, right now, women with postpartum bleeding are 60% more likely to get a hysterectomy than UAE. And that’s a problem, because "UAE is safer and has an easier recovery than hysterectomy," she said at the Society of Interventional Radiology's virtual annual meeting.
She also noted that postpartum bleeding is common. Each year, about 100,000 women in this country develop this condition. And postpartum bleeding is still the leading cause of global maternal mortality.
Currently, most women are treated with a blood transfusion. But the second most common way to stop postpartum bleeding is to give women a hysterectomy.
UAE vs Hysterectomy After Delivery
Here are the stats according to Dr. Newsome's team. For every 1000 women with postpartum bleeding, 116 received transfusions. About 20 of those women received hysterectomies, while only 13 women were treated with UAE.
While a hysterectomy can stop postpartum bleeding, it also comes with serious, permanent side effects—plus instant loss of fertility for these new moms. Plus, after hysterectomy, moms were twice as likely to face long hospital stays. (Not to mention hefty hospital bills!)
Even more worrying? Hispanic women in particular were more likely to receive a hysterectomy. As were women in rural communities. Or those who were Medicaid patients.
In response to these findings, Dr. Newsome suggested adding an interventional radiologist to the hospital maternal medicine team. She hopes that will help reduce the rate of hysterectomy for postpartum bleeding going forward.
Choosing UAE in Houston
While our team of interventional radiologists doesn't offer postpartum care, we do offer UAE. And we've helped many women with fibroids avoid hysterectomy, while relieving their painful symptoms.
Are you looking for fibroid relief? And hoping to keep your uterus and avoid hysterectomy? We're here today! Reach out to our team today by clicking here to request an appointment. We can help you decide if you're a good candidate for UFE!
SOURCES: Janice Newsome, MD, Emory University, Atlanta; Society of Interventional Radiology
How fast do fibroids shrink after embolization? Every woman is different, but most will start noticing a difference in symptoms three months after the procedure. Still, your fibroids are likely to keep shrinking for another six to nine months following the procedure. But what is embolization for uterine fibroids? And who is a candidate for this procedure? Keep reading to find out!
What is Uterine Fibroid Embolization?
Uterine Fibroid Embolization, or UFE, is a minimally invasive, FDA-approved treatment that shrinks fibroids by cutting off the blood supply that feeds them. Now, because UFE allows you to avoid surgery and hospital stays while keeping your uterus, many women prefer this treatment option. But you will need an in-office consultation to determine your candidacy.
If UFE is right for you, our interventional radiologists in Houston will begin your procedure by inserting a tiny catheter through a small incision. Next, they'll guide the catheter to the vessels that supply your fibroids with blood. They'll insert tiny particles into the catheter to block that blood supply. And, in the days, weeks, and months that follow, your fibroids will shrink and symptoms should improve.
Why Choose UFE
When you select UFE over other treatment options, you can preserve your uterus and avoid artificial menopause. It's minimally invasive, so the cost is lower, and there is a reduced risk for complications. Additionally, there is a shorter recovery period, and you can go home on the same day as your procedure, beginning the symptom improvement process at home.
So, How Fast do Fibroids Shrink After UFE?
Overall, UFE has a very high success rate, with 90% achieving the results they're looking for: symptom improvement and better quality of life. Now, the speed of results vary across patients. Some women find instant relief, while others take a slightly longer time to find relief. The speed of results depends on your own body, the size and the location of your uterine fibroids.
Still, most women will experience significant shrinkage within six months of your procedure. Again, there is a variation in speed of results, and it could take as long as a year for fibroids to fully shrink. And, while they may not disappear, the significant size reduction should relieve symptoms and result in improved quality of life.
Ready to find out for yourself how fast do fibroids shrink after UFE? Click here to request an appointment with our fibroid specialists in Houston!
If you have uterine fibroids, it's important to know your fibroid treatment options. Until recently, most women didn't hear about choices. Instead, they were given hysterectomies or other surgeries to treat fibroids and other causes of pelvic pain. But at least 80% of women with fibroids want to avoid removing their uterus. And we know there are better alternatives to a hysterectomy. Which is why we want women to know all their fibroid treatment options.
(more…)Whether it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month, or any other time of year, we want our patients to understand that fibroids are one of the risk factors for breast cancer. So, even though these uterine growths aren't cancerous, they seem to be linked to higher breast cancer rates. Let's take a closer look at the information we have so far.
Fibroids as Risk Factors for Breast Cancer: A New Study
A new Journal of Gynecological Oncology study found that women with fibroids had a higher risk of breast cancer. To reach this conclusion, researchers studied Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, comparing the health history of 22,001 women with fibroids to 85,356 women who were fibroid free.
Here's what they learned: the women with fibroids developed breast cancer at a 35 percent higher rate than women without fibroids. And, while that's the bad news, there was a silver lining in the story. Even though women with fibroids had higher risk factors for breast cancer, they were far less likely to die from the disease.
Additionally, another study revealed that women with fibroids, especially women who are also obese, have a higher risk for breast fibroadenomas. While these solid breast lumps are not cancerous, they do show that there's a distinct link between uterine fibroids and developments in your breast tissue. As such, this connection is worth investigating further.
Breast Cancer and Fibroids: What's the Connection?
While we don't know exactly why women develop uterine fibroids, we do know that your body's ability to balance estrogen plays a role. Early menstruation, in-utero chemical exposure, race and genetics also play a role in fibroid risk, since women with a family history of fibroids and African American women develop these growths at higher rates than other women.
Similarly, studies suggest that women's breast cancer risk is linked to their body's estrogen and progesterone production. Additionally, women's family history, along with early menstruation or early menopause, also increases risk.
Reducing Risk Factors for Breast Cancer and Fibroids
You may be able to reduce your risk for both conditions by making simple lifestyle changes. Especially ones that can help keep your hormone levels in check.
First, avoid excessive alcohol use, since too much drinking makes it harder for your body to metabolize estrogen. You can also engage in regular exercise and follow a healthy diet, since obesity or increased Body Mass Indexes (BMIs) can raise your body's estrogen levels. (Fat tissue produces estrogen.)
Finally, try to avoid exposure to chemicals that can increase estrogen in your body, including those in certain African American hair products and those found in plastic containers.
Identifying Early Warning Signs
Breast cancer is the easiest to treat when caught in its early stages. Similarly, when you seek early intervention for fibroids, you're more likely to find relief with less-invasive treatment options. For that reason, it's important to watch for any warning signs, and discuss them with your healthcare provider as soon as you notice an issue.
Fibroid symptoms
While some women with fibroids never develop symptoms, others experience:
Prolonged, heavy periods
Bladder pressure that leads to frequent urination
Chronic pelvic pain
Painful sex
Constipation and bloating
Infertility or miscarriages
Anemia
Breast Cancer Symptoms
As with fibroids, this disease looks different in different people. But some common signs include:
A lump or mass in your breast or armpit.
Pain surrounding your nipple.
Breast tissue that thickens or swells
Changes to the color or texture of the skin on your breast
Endometriosis, Fibroids and Ovarian Cancer
Unfortunately, breast cancer isn't the only concern with fibroids. A study in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology looked at the connection between endometriosis, fibroids and women's risk for ovarian cancer. Here's what they found: having endometriosis or fibroids increased the risk of ovarian cancer for both black and white women. Now, having a hysterectomy appeared to reduce that risk for white women. But, for women of color, hysterectomy did not reduce the increased risk for ovarian cancer that came with endometriosis, suggesting that other, less invasive interventions are worth exploring.
Staying Safe with Proactive Health Care
As we mentioned, it's important to address any breast cancer or fibroid symptoms right away. This is the best way to get a quick and accurate diagnosis, and begin your treatment plan.
Of course, you don't have to wait for symptoms to appear to begin monitoring for breast cancer. At home-breast exams and annual mammograms, ultrasounds or MRIs can help with early detection. Along with regular visits to your healthcare provider, they are an important part of managing your risk factors for breast cancer.
Equally, it's important to understand your risk for fibroids and get proactive about your health. Then, if you've received a fibroids diagnosis, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our Houston area specialists to discuss your non-surgical treatment options.
Sources: Fibroid Fighters
If you want to have a pregnancy after removal of fibroids, choosing your best treatment may be challenging. That’s especially true if you have large fibroids, or if you have many of these non-cancerous uterine tumors.
After all, many women with multiple fibroids think hysterectomy is their best—or only—treatment option. But if you want to start or grow your family, or avoid hysterectomy complications, you’ll need a different approach. So, in this article, we’ll explore the differences between two fertility-preserving fibroid treatments: UFE and myomectomy.
Pregnancy After Removal of Fibroids: Fertility Preserving Treatments
Up to 80% of women will develop uterine fibroids before hitting menopause. These growths form from cells in the muscular outer layer of your uterus (called the myometrium) and can leave you with heavy periods, pelvic pain and sexual discomfort, among other disruptive symptoms.
While some women with fibroids never develop symptoms, this large survey reveals that women with fibroids are more likely to experience bladder pressure, cramps and pain between and during periods, along with painful sex. As a result, almost 43% of the women with fibroids said their tumors took a negative toll on life, affecting intimacy, work performance and even their familial relationships.
Unfortunately, many doctors consider a hysterectomy to be the main—or only—fibroid treatment option. But fertility sparing approaches do exist. (And they’re very effective.) These are the two main options.
UFE and Pregnancy After Removal of Fibroids
If you choose Uterine Fibroid Embolization, your interventional radiologist will perform this outpatient procedure. Instead of going under anesthesia, you’ll get a small injection in your arm or leg that allows us to insert a catheter. Next, we’ll deliver material to your uterine artery through that catheter. This cuts off blood supply to your fibroids, so they shrink and eventually disappear.
Now, some research suggests that UAE may increase your risk for intrauterine adhesions. And we don’t yet know exactly how they could impact your fertility or ability to carry a baby to term. Still, a recent study comparing UFE and Myomectomy revealed that both procedures delivered similar results.
Anecdotal evidence also suggests many women conceive after UFE. Sheila, a woman who received UFE in Atlanta before conceiving, told the Washington Informer, “What I would say to another woman who has fibroids and wants to get pregnant is to go get the embolization. I don’t feel the pain that I felt before, I feel great, I have a lot more energy.” She went on to say, "would tell the doctor that told me that the embolization doesn’t work, that I am living proof. I am actually pregnant, I am fine, and I will be fine. It’s literally life-changing.”
And patients like Yvette Foy have publicly shared their stories about having a baby after UFE, to help other women know hysterectomy isn't the only way forward. As a result, you should consider both options. Especially if you want to avoid surgery.
Myomectomy: Surgical Fibroid Removal
With this procedure, your surgeon will make one or more small incisions in your abdomen or pelvic region to access and remove your fibroids. While less invasive than a hysterectomy, a myomectomy still requires anasthesia, hospital stays and a more extended recovery period.
If you want to pursue pregnancy after removal of fibroids, you’ll have to choose between these options. And there are many factors to consider. First, you should understand that fibroid location matters when it comes to impact on fertility. So, depending on your situation, you may choose to delay treatment until after your family is complete. (But keep in mind that fibroids can impact your pregnancy, even if they don’t get in the way of conception.) Plus, if you are pregnant with fibroids, you’ll need extra monitoring to make sure the growths don’t limit fetal development.
In other words, choosing to treat fibroids before pregnancy may improve your chances of carrying your baby to term, and avoiding complications. So, if you have fibroids and still want to start or expand your family, we invite you to schedule a consultation with our Houston area specialists. We’ll discuss your fertility-preserving treatment options and help you make a choice that works for your goals.