How to Prevent Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that form on the walls of a woman's uterus. They occur in 20 percent to 80 percent of women between the ages of 30 and 50. Women who are at risk of developing fibroids may wonder how to prevent uterine fibroids. The exact cause as to how fibroids develop is unknown, as are the methods to prevent them from forming. However, experts have been able to identify certain risk factors, treatments, and complications that may aid in the understanding of uterine fibroids. There are also many ongoing studies that have found significant indicators of what may aid in fibroid prevention.

Steps

1. Know the risk factors of developing uterine fibroids.
   • As a woman ages, the risk of developing uterine fibroids increases.
   • A family history of fibroids can increase a woman's risk of developing fibroids up to 3 times above average.
   • Women of African decent are 3 times more likely to develop fibroids than Caucasian women. They also tend to develop them earlier and more severely.
   • Women who are overweight are more likely to develop fibroids.
2. Exercise regularly. Studies indicate that the more a woman exercises, the more likely she will not develop uterine fibroids.
3. Control your weight. Studies also indicate that obesity can increase your risk by 2 to 3 times more than average for developing uterine fibroids. Keep your weight at the recommended level based upon your height and body type. Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI), which is weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared, or weight in lb divided by height in inches squared, then multiply by 703. A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 25. If your BMI is above 25, take steps to reduce your weight now.
4. Understand that pregnancy and childbirth may have protective effects against developing uterine fibroids.
5. Take oral contraceptives, as they may lower the risk of uterine fibroids.
6. Reduce red meat consumption. Studies indicate that consuming large amounts of beef and ham can contribute to a higher risk of developing fibroids.
   • Eating fish such as salmon, mackerel, and tuna may reduce the inflamed tissues of uterine fibroids.
7. Eat green vegetables. Studies indicate that a diet high in green vegetables may protect a woman from developing fibroids.
8. Understand that complications may arise from the development of fibroids. Complications may include painful and heavy menstrual periods, anemia from loss of blood, pressure on the bladder or rectum, and swelling of the abdomen. Additionally, if you become pregnant and have fibroids, complications may include miscarriage, blocked fallopian tubes, premature labor, ruptured placenta, and abnormal fetal position.

Video

Tips

• Fibroids may be surgically removed if they cause problems; however, they tend to grow back. The only way to ensure fibroids do not regrow is to undergo a hysterectomy. A hysterectomy, which is the removal of the uterus, also has complications and long-term effects of its own and the procedure needs to be discussed thoroughly with your doctor.
• Fibroids tend to reduce in size after menopause.
• Oral contraceptives, if taken from an early age, do not help prevent fibroids.

Sources and Citations

• http://women.webmd.com/uterine-fibroids/uterine-fibroids-prevention
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/uterine-fibroids/DS00078/DSECTION=risk-factors
• http://www.medicinenet.com/uterine_fibroids/article.htm
• http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/uterine-fibroids.cfm
• http://www.naturalnews.com/028105_Fibroids_remedies.html

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Prevent Uterine Fibroids. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How to Get Rid of Uterine Fibroid Pain

DIAGRAM OF UTERINE FIBROID

Uterine fibroids are common, benign growths that frequently occur during a woman's reproductive years. For some women the pain from fibroids can be extreme, manifesting itself in many ways. As a result of fibroids the uterus, which is normally the size of a small pear, may grow as large as a small watermelon. The enlarged uterus puts excess pressure on the bowel, bladder, abdomen or back resulting in pain.

Steps

1. Treat the pain and wait for the fibroids to resolve themselves if the pain is manageable. Fibroids will naturally begin to shrink after you go through menopause and your levels of estrogen decrease. Most women experience no pain from fibroids after menopause.
   • Over-the-counter pain pills, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, may provide temporary relief from pain and swelling caused by fibroids.
   • For more severe pain stronger analgesics requiring a doctor’s prescription are needed. Examples include stronger NSAIDS like diclofenac, mefenamic acid and naproxen or opiates.
   • Hot water bottles, heating pads and soaking in a hot tub are helpful for lowering back and abdomen pain.
   • There are other ways of relieving pain from fibroids.
   • These include: Gentle therapeutic massage, the careful use of thermal heat pads, or ice-packs to the site of the pain, poultices, TENS machines, acupuncture, and hypnosis. Caution: there is a risk of burns when using heat pads or ice-packs (ice-burns). Prolonged or incautious use may result in skin burns, permanent colour changes to the skin (erythema ab igne) and skin damage. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Talk to your doctor about hormone therapy or prescription pain medications if your efforts at pain management are not working.
3. Shrink the fibroids by having a uterine fibroid embolization, which involves inserting a catheter into your femoral artery through a small incision made in your thigh to block the fibroids' blood supply. This outpatient, non-invasive procedure has an extremely high success rate.
4. In this procedure a fine tube is passed into the artery that supplies the myoma. The radiologist will then inject gel or tiny plastic particles into the artery. These block the artery and cut off the blood flow to the myoma. The myoma subsequently shrinks. UAE is performed as an inpatient or outpatient procedure. It is rare to get complications, but very rarely the procedure may precipitate an early menopause. Medical research has found that the re-growth rate is low, but more long term studies are required. A disadvantage is that not all myomata are suitable for treatment with this method
5. MRI-guided ultrasound surgery uses a high intensity ultrasound beam to shrink myomata. The MRI scanner enables the radiologist to identify the myoma. The ultrasound uses extremely powerful sound waves to heat and destroy the myoma
6. Have a myomectomy to remove the fibroids and leave your uterus intact. If fibroid pain is interfering in your life, you may have to have the fibroids removed to eliminate the pain. This is a type of surgical procedure which involves taking out the fibroid without removing healthy uterine tissue. This is a good treatment for those women who want to conceive after they have had treatment for their myomata or who prefer to keep their womb for other reasons. It is possible to fall pregnant after a myomectomy. However you may be advised to or require a caesarean section to deliver the baby.A myomectomy can be performed one of 3 ways:
   • Abdominal myomectomy involves the surgical removal of fibroids through an abdominal incision.
   • Laproscopic myomectomy requires several small incisions in the abdomen to allow for fibroid removal with a laproscope.
   • Hysteroscopic myomectomy removes the fibroids vaginally using a resectoscope, which cuts the fibroid using electrical current.
7. Have a hysterectomy as a last resort for relieving fibroid pain. A hysterectomy removes your entire uterus and is the most invasive fibroid treatment. Considered a major operation, it often requires an extended hospital stay followed by a period of recovery at home. A hysterectomy has the greatest risk of complications.
   • Pain bleeding and pressure on the bladder and bowels caused by fibroid is responsible for 40 percent of all hysterectomies performed in the United States.
   • Most hysterectomies performed because of fibroids are carried out by means of an an abdominal incision, because the uterus is too large for other types of removal.

Video

Warnings

• Fibroid pain may be chronic or just occasional and may get worse during bowel movements, physical exercise, sexual intercourse, or when you have your period. Fibroids may also cause irregular or heavy vaginal bleeding.
• The risk for uterine fibroids is greater in overweight women, women who have never had children, and those who have a genetic predisposition.
• Abdominal pain can be caused by many different things, some of which are life threatening if left untreated. Whenever you experience pain you should see a physician for diagnosis.

Related wikiHows

• How to Get Rid of Pain Through Exercise
• How to Prevent Uterine Fibroids

Sources and Citations

• • http://www.gynsecondopinion.com/fibroids.htm
• http://www.fibroids.com/traditional-fibroid-surgeries/myomectomy
• http://www.fibroids.com/the-embolization-solution/uterine-fibroid-embolization
• http://www.fibroids.com/traditional-fibroid-surgeries/hysterectomy
• http://www.enetmd.com/content/fibroid-pain http://www.entmd.com/content/fibroids

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Get Rid of Uterine Fibroid Pain. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.