Uterine fibroids are a benign tumour that originates from the smooth muscle layer.
Fibroids are most common benign tumours in females and typically found during the middle and later reproductive years. While most fibroids are asymptomatic, they can grow and cause heavy and painful menstruation, painful sexual intercourse and urinary frequency and urgency. Some fibroids may interfere with pregnancy although this appears to be very rare. Uterine fibroids shrink dramatically in size after a woman passes through menopause.
Etiology
- Uterine fibroids are extremely common. In fact, many women have uterine fibroids at some point in life. Uterine fibroids in most women are usually too small to cause any problems, or even be noticed.
- Exact cause is not yet known, but their growth depends on estrogen.
- Uterine fibroids usually develop after the age of 30.
- Uterine fibroids shrink or disappear after menopause, when estrogen level falls.
- Early menstruation
- Family history
- Pregnancy: women who had children are less likely to get fibroids.
Types of fibroids
Fibroids may be single or multiple. Many fibroids start in an intramural locatio, that is the layer of the muscle of the uterus. With further growth, some lesion may develop towards the outside of the uterus or towards internal cavity. Secondary changes that may develop within fibroids are haemorrhage, necrosis, calcification and cystic changes.
- Intramural fibroids are located within wall of the uterus and are most common type. Intramural fibroids begin as small nodules in the muscular wall of the uterus. With time, fibroids expand inwards, causing distortion and elongation of uterine cavity.
- Subserosal fibroids are located underneath the mucosal surface of the uterus and can become very large. They can also grow out in pappillary manner to become pedunculated fibroids. These pedunculated growths detach from from uterus to become parasitic leiomyoma.
- Submucosal fibroids are located in the muscle beneath the endometrium of the uterus and distortion of the uterine cavity. A pedunculated lesion within the cavity is termed an intacavitary fibroid and can be passed through cervix.
SYMPTOMS?
Symptoms depends upon size, location, number and pathological findings. Fibroids, particularly when small, may be asymptomatic.
Generally, symptoms relate to the location of the fibroids and its size.
Symptoms include…
- Abnormal bleeding per vaginum
- Pain
- Abdominal lump, urinary frequency or retention and other associated symptoms
- In some cases infertility
- During pregnancy they may be the cause of miscarriage, bleeding, premature labour or interference with the position of foetus.
Diagnosis?
Moderate and large sized uterine fibroids are often felt by a doctor during a manual pelvic examination.
Imaging test are done to confirm the fibroids are:
- Ultrasound
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (pelvic MRI)
- Biopsy
- Hysterosalpinogram
- Sonohystogram
- Hysteroscopy
Complications?
- Anemia due to excessive heavy bleeding.
- Interference with growth of foetus during pregnancy. Could cause problem during delivery.
- Severe bleeding or infection.
- Infertility
Diet & nutrition?
- Reducing fat intake and increasing fiber intake will lessen your estrogen production and restore hormone balance, which may effectively combat fibroid growth.
- Incorporating more citrus fruits, red onions and leafy vegetables may also be effective against fibroid growth.
- A high-fiber diet will ease difficulty with moving your bowels.
Role of Homoeopathy?
Homeopathy can help you avoid hysterectomy
Homeopathy as a scientific system of therapeutics is based on identifying the individual as an entity and selecting the similimum according to his characteristics. In homoeopathy each individual is considered as a distinct entity with certain characteristics of his own and based on these characteristics we choose an identical medicinal picture. Sometimes, we come through remedies which seem to have similar profile but on closer observation we recognize the subtle difference which gives both a distinct identity. Thus, we see that Individualization is one of the basic tenets of Homeopathy.
Homeopathy believes that each individual of any race, nationality, breed or background has some characteristic features which differentiate him from all other of his own kind. Even two twins with same environmental and genetic background have some features which differentiates them. You must have seen that in a same family too every individual responds differently to same situation, a drench in rain may cause backache in one, fever in other and headache in the third. Why is it so? It is because each of us has a different Constitution, an altogether different individuality. Every person reacts to any external agent according to his/her individuality.
Fibroids are a leading cause of hysterectomy (the removal of the uterus). Removal of uterus leads to surgically induced menopause. The abrupt disruption in the production of hormones will cause symptoms that are more severe, more frequent and last longer compared with symptoms of natural menopause.
Myomectomy is the surgical removal of the fibroid while preserving the uterus but recurrences are often observed.
Homeopathic remedies tend to balance the hormones, cure the fibroids and reduce heavy menstrual bleeding. They are natural, effective, with no side effects and can be used even during pregnancy.
Homoeopathic Medicine?
- Secale corneatum passive haemorrhage in feeble, cachetic women. Burning pains in uterus. Menses irregular, copoious, dark, continuous oozing of watery blood.
- Sepia menses too late, scanty, irregular, early and profuse, sharp pains. Voilent stitches upward in vagina, from uterus to umblicus. Prolapsed of uterus and vagina.
- Thuja occidentalis menses scanty,retarded polypi, fleshy excrescenses. Ovaritis,worse left side, at every menstrual period. Perspiration before menses.
- Staphysagria prolapsus with sinking in the abdomen, aching around hips.
- Phosphorus- When there is profuse and prolonged bleeding along with uterine fibroids.
- Calcarea Carb- A few women with uterine fibroids may experience sweating, anxiety and/or a sensation of coldness.A Calcarea Carb patient is usually obese and has a tendency to sweats a lot. The patient might have a pungent odor, and the menses may last for too long. There are can also be itching and burning sensations in the genitals, prior to menses.
- Thlaspi Bursa Pastoris - where there is profuse and heavy bleeding during menses, this medicine helps extensively.
- Sepia- When the uterine fibroids come with indifference, irritability, and bearing down pains. There is a sharp pain in the lower abdomen region. The patient feels as if there will be an outflow of everything through her vagina. To block the jutting out of the contents, the patient might feel the urge to sit cross-legged. The periods are too late and scanty. During coition, there may be a pain in the vagina as well.
Dr. Rajneesh's Homoeopathy: Facilities -True Homoeopathy consultation, Laboratory, Yoga, Physiotherapy, Needle therapy (accupuncture), skin laser treatment.
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