Health Tips For Stay Healthy

FIBROID TUMORS OF THE UTERUS (MYOMAS)

DEFINITION
An abnormal, benign (non cancerous) growth of cells in the muscular wall of the uterus. It involves not only the uterus but sometimes the cervix as well.

COMPLICATION
› Complications can occur in pregnancy such as spontaneous abortion and premature labor.
› Fibroids may return following surgery to remove them.
› Malignant change in the fibroid tumor (rare). It is usually signaled by very rapid growth.

RECOMMENDATIONS
› Avoid contraceptive pills with a high estrogen content. Estrogen may cause fibroids to enlarge.
› Over 30 percent of the hysterectomies performed in the U.S. are done to remove fibroid tumors. An alternative to hysterectomy is a procedure known as myomectomy. This operation removes the fibroids, but leaves the uterus intact. There is an estimated 50 percent chance that new tumors will form later, although they probably will not grow as large as the original fibroid tumors. Any women pondering a hysterectomy should give the matter close and careful consideration, and should ask her physician about less radical ways to treat fibroids. Some 650,000 hysterectomies are performed each year in the United States, many of them unnecessary. (Ref. Nutritional Healing, James F. Balch, M.D.)