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Get relief
There are many effective therapies for
fibroids, including:
Medications.
Over-the-counter drugs,
such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen,
may help relieve mild pain.
Prescription hormones, including birth
control pills, may help lessen bleeding.
But they can sometimes cause fibroids
to grow larger.
Hormone-blocking drugs can stop
periods and shrink fibroids. However,
they may cause side effects similar to
menopause, so they are typically used
for six months or less.
Myomectomy.
Fibroids grow inside of
the uterus muscle but can be separated
from the uterus itself. In myomectomy,
the uterus is opened and the fibroid is
removed, leaving the remainder of the
uterus intact.
Uterine artery embolization (UAE).
With UAE, tiny particles are injected into
the blood vessels of the uterus. They
block the blood supply to fibroids, causing
them to shrink. UAE reduces the chance
that fibroids will develop in the future.
But, in about one-third of cases, fibroids
return within five years.
There is a small risk that UAE will cause
early menopause or raise the risk of
miscarriage, so it may not be the best
choice for women who still want to get
pregnant.
Getting enough vitamin D may reduce
a woman’s risk of developing fibroids,
according to a study from the National
Institutes of Health.
Adequate levels of vitamin D have
been associated with a reduced risk
of several diseases, including heart
disease and colon cancer. But this
is the first study to examine the link
between vitamin D and fibroids. These
noncancerous tumors of the uterus are
the leading cause of hysterectomies in
this country.
Researchers used blood tests to
determine the vitamin D levels of 1,036
women ages 35 to 49. They found that
women with vitamin D levels above
20 nanograms per milliliter — typically
considered an adequate amount —
were 32 percent less likely to develop
fibroids than women with vitamin D
below this level.
Foods fortified
with vitamin D,
such as milk
and cereal, are
good sources
of this vitamin.
The body also
makes vitamin
D when skin
is exposed to
sunlight.
Vitamin D
To learn more about treatment
options for fibroids, call 707.963.5006
or visit
www.sthelenahospital.org/womenservices.
There are many effective ways
to treat fibroids, and the type of
treatment chosen will depend on
the severity of your symptoms
and the fibroid size, number
and location,” says Candace
Westgate, DO, OB-GYN at St.
Helena Women’s Center. “Your
preference and desire for future
childbearing also enters into the
treatment discussion. Not all
treatments are recommended
for all women.
—
Candace Westgate, DO
“
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May Protect
Against Fibroids
Hysterectomy.
If other treatments fail
or if fibroids are very large, hysterectomy
(removal of the uterus) may be
necessary. It is the only sure way to cure
fibroids, according to the NIH. After a
hysterectomy, a woman can no longer
have children.
John H. Kirk, MD
Candace Westgate, DO
There are many advantages to UAE,”
says John H. Kirk, MD, OB-GYN
at St. Helena Women’s Center. “It
preserves the entire uterus and
ovaries and it is performed as an
outpatient procedure with local
anesthesia with sedation. This means
the woman experiences minimal
recovery time and can return to work
and life faster and with less pain.
—
John H. Kirk, MD
“
”