FIBROIDS: AFRICA’S SILENT INVASION…PART 3

FIBROIDS: AFRICA’S SILENT INVASION…PART 3

TREATING FIBROIDS

ü      HYSTRECTOMY- the removal of the uterus.

ADVANTAGES- the fibroids never return. The best candidates are those who have already had children and do not want any more.

ü      MYOMECTOMY- the removal of fibroids, without removing the uterus. 25- 50 per cent of women have recurring fibroids and 10 per cent of these may need a second surgery.

ADVANTAGES- It preserves the uterus for child bearing and the surgery is less extensive, thus a faster recovery time.

ü      UTERINE ARTERY EMBOLIZATION: here, small beads of a compound called polyvinyl alcohol are injected into the arteries that feed the fibroid. The beads hinder blood supply to the fibroid, starving it of blood.

ADVANTAGES- General anesthesia is not required, there is no blood loss, all fibroids are treated at once, there is hardly recurrence and the healing is fast- you can return to normal activities in 10 days.

-          Other common treatment includes cryosurgery (freezing the fibroids) or using laser therapy. Pregnancy is known to shrink fibroids, while menopause (when the body stops producing oestrogen), usually causes fibroids to shrink.

-          There are a number of herbal treatments that have been linked to fibroids (including sage leaves, peppermint, stinging nettle and blackberry leaves); however, clinical nutrionists say that these should be avoided as they are not scientifically proven. Always see your doc if you believe you have fibroids.