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A staggering percentage of women, 20-80%, will develop uterine fibroids by the time they reach age 50. The side effects of fibroids for some women force them to contemplate medical intervention. While doctors of the past relied on hysterectomies to rid women of troublesome, painful fibroids, today there are fertility-sparing options to remove them and many natural ways to support a healthy uterus after.
Another reason women are faced with medical removal of uterine fibroids is because over time fibroids left untreated can start to calcify or harden (this typically take several years). Sometimes, the best first defense is surgery to remove such a calcified growth.
Uterine fibroid removal procedures include invasive procedures like Hysterectomy, Endometrial Ablation, Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE), Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE), which are likely to be harmful to uterine tissue and may disrupt the menstrual cycle. There are, however, less invasive procedures including Myomectomy and Myolysis, both of which still come with risks for impacting uterine health. There is also a fairly new procedure called magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound or Focused Ultrasound, which is proving to successfully remove uterine fibroids (uterine polyps) while preserving uterine integrity.
No matter the reason(s) chosen for medical removal of a uterine fibroid, it is important to follow a natural fertility program of prevention. Surgery is not a fibroid “cure.” Women with fibroid-related fertility issues need to be aware that new fibroids may develop even after surgery.
Women in their fertile years with uterine fibroids who want to have children should consider continuing natural uterine health support after a surgery. It is essential to keep fibroid triggers in check and continue natural therapies for uterine support to reduce risk of recurrence and go on to have a healthy pregnancy.
6 Important Ways To Support Uterine Health After Fibroid Removal
If you’ve elected to have fibroid surgery, natural therapies are a good choice for continued uterine support. Preventing new fibroid growth may be critical to your ongoing reproductive health and fertility.
1. Avoid fibroid triggers in your diet – Avoid red meat, pork, non-organic dairy, and excess soy. These foods contain hormone mimics that imbalance estrogen. Excess estrogen circulation throughout the body can trigger fibroid growth. A low fat, vegetarian diet is your best bet for fibroid protection. Some research finds eating plenty of vegetables cuts your fibroid risk in half!
2. Reduce caffeine intake – Caffeine is a bad idea if you’re prone to fibroids. Too much caffeine increases estrogen production, a risk factor for fibroid recurrence. (Estrogen receptors are high in fibroid tissue.) One study finds women who consume 500 milligrams of caffeine (4-5 cups of coffee daily), produce 70% more estrogen in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle than women who consume less than 1 cup of coffee.
3. Consider uterine health herbs – Specific herbs like Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) and Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) support a healthy uterine environment and encourage the body’s natural inflammation response. Consider learning more about Fibro Defense. This is a wonderful herbal formula designed to to work to reduce foreign tissue growth in support of a healthy uterine environment that also includes herbs like dandelion to promote hormone balance by cleansing the liver.
4. Employ Systemic Enzyme Therapy – Systemic enzymes like Fertilica Choice EnzymesTM help the body rebalance after surgery and provide support for when you try to conceive. Systemic enzymes, taken on an empty stomach, help to normalize scar tissue production. Further, they also help normalize immune response.
5. Practice Self Fertility Massage – Self Fertility Massage is an innovative technique that can promote reproductive health and natural fertility after a fibroid surgery. Self Fertility Massage has the ability to break up fibrin (the substance that makes up a scar) and increases circulation, bringing fresh blood to the uterus; all important for healing.
**Self Fertility Massage should be started a few weeks after a surgery and only if your incisions are completely healed.
6. Utilize Castor Oil Packs – Castor oil has been used for thousands of years for health. For reproductive system support, castor oil packs can be applied to the lower abdomen to encourage a healthy uterine environment. Castor oil packs also aid normal circulation, and reduce mild discomfort. Note: Only use castor oil packs as directed after your surgical incisions have completely healed.
To view a kit with these ingredients and body therapies click here…
Additional resources:
The Best Natural Remedies for Uterine Fibroids…
3 Things Women with Uterine Fibroids Should Be Doing Daily
Video: Natural Therapies for Uterine Fibroids
Top Ways to Improve Uterine Health for Women with Uterine Fibroids
Summary
If you’re considering a fibroid surgery, be aware of the risk factors involved. It is important to ask for a referral to a surgeon who has a marked surgery success rate; a surgeon who is well-known for his/her ability to preserve uterine health. Always ask lots of questions if you’re unsure.
If you’ve already had a fibroid surgery and are planning for a future pregnancy, make sure your focus is on continued uterine support and hormone balance. Dietary approaches and natural therapies can be paramount to minimize complications, and encourage ongoing reproductive system health and fertility.
- Parker, W. (2009, May) Can New Fibroids Grow After Myomectomy. Fibroid Second Opinion.Retrieved from: http://www.fibroidsecondopinion.com/can-fibroids-grow/
- Uterine Fibroid Fact Sheet. (2015, Jan) Womenshealth.gov. Retrieved from:
http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/uterine-fibroids.html - Indman, P. (2011, M ay) Uterine Fibroids, Infertility and Pregnancy. Obgyn.net. Retrieved from: http://www.obgyn.net/blog/uterine-fibroids-infertility-and-pregnancy
- Uterine Fibroids & Uterine Surgery (2005-2016). WebMD. Retrieved from: http://www.webmd.com/women/uterine-fibroids/uterine-fibroids-surgery
- Tse, I. (2015, Feb) Uterine Fibroids: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment. Live Science. Retrieved from: http://www.livescience.com/34804-uterine-fibroids.html
Sarah has worked in the field of natural foods and herbalism for over 20 years. She’s a published author, Certified Herbalist, and health and wellness consultant. Sarah Graduated from the Professional Herbal Studies from the East West School of Herbology, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English. Working with women on their journey to wellness is her passion and she loves to share what she has been blessed to learn from naturopaths and other herbalists over the years.
