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What are Fibroid Tumors?

The good news about fibroid tumors is they are rarely cancerous. The bad news is they tend to develop during a woman’s peak reproductive years and they can affect your ability to become pregnant.

Fibroids are the most common type of tumor found in the pelvis and they are generally located in various spots in the uterus. Normally, you wouldn’t even be aware that you have them, unless they grow excessively large or cause discomfort. They rarely develop before the age of 20 and are non-existent before the onset of puberty, leading many to believe that they may be an adverse reaction to estrogen production. Generally, they shrink in size and can actually disappear in post-menopausal women who do not take estrogen supplements.

Pregnancy, a time when there is increased estrogen production, and the use of birth control pills that contain estrogen, may cause fibroids to grow bigger and more rapidly.

Most women with fibroid tumors experience no symptoms at all. When they do, they generally complain of pain and excessive bleeding during menstruation, which may not be noticeable at first. But then the woman’s periods may begin to last longer, and sometimes there is constant bleeding. Another symptom may be an enlarged stomach due to the stretching of the uterus that results in the intestines being pushed upward.

Fibroids are usually discovered during an annual gynecological examination when a mass may be detected. Many doctors will perform an ultrasound to properly diagnose the mass.

While hysterectomy was once the treatment of choice for fibroids, there are far less invasive alternatives. Some researchers in the field of natural health believe that deficiencies in certain trace minerals may be responsible for the growth of fibroids. Trace mineral supplements and certain herbal remedies, when combined with chiropractic care, have shown promising results.

Surgery and the use of pharmacological agents should always be the last resort for treating any health problem. Try natural, safer, less-invasive methods first!