Fibroids----women only please?

I went to my gynecologist a few weeks ago, and the pap smear was normal. But he said I have some fibroids and he wants to do an ultrasound. That will be in 2 more weeks. I h/b reading on the internet about fibroids, and they are non-cancerous and normal for women to get them. But I'm concerned about the treatment. One method is a non-operational procedure called uterine fibroid embolization done in the hospital to shrink them. This can also trigger menopause. I'm 51 so this wouldn't be too much of a concern. Another method of treatment is an experimental drug that can have side effects. It didn't give the name of the drug, or the possible side effects. So my question is, have any of you ever taken this drug for fibroids and if so, did you experience any side effects? Or did you have the fibroid embolization procedure, and what was your opinion? I'm not really worried about anything, but would just like to know what to expect. Thanks in advance for your input.

I second the natural progesterone approach!
Fibroids are estrogen-driven. Give your body the "anti-estrogen" it needs, and you may be able to avoid surgery altogether.

At 51, natural progesterone is something you should probably be using anyway. These fibroids give you a good reason to look into it. DO NOT do the Lupron treatment your doctor is talking about. This is some BAD BAD stuff. Or, he may be talking about the newer alternative to Lupron called Lyrica. Equally bad!

Dr. John Lee was very successful in treating fibroids with progesterone. Check out his book called "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause". He does a fantastic job of explaining - in plain English - what hormone imbalance does to us, and how to correct it.

Because my tubes were tied and I couldn't have anymore children I opted for a hysterectomy. My fibroid was the size of a baby at 6 months gestation. You need to be careful about these new and experimental treatments. They can cause more harm than good. Have it removed or have everything removed. I am so glad I did it, and I felt so much better.

The cause of fibroids has not been determined but most fibroids develop in women during their reproductive years. Fibroids need a rich blood supply and estrogen stimulates their growth. Once menopause has begun, fibroids generally stop growing and can begin to shrink due to the loss of estrogen. Sometimes it is recommended that you "wait and see" what will happen. This approach is most practical when menopause is not far away and when symptoms are limited. Fibroids generally continue to grow until menopause.

In case you are interested in considering natural approach. Here is recommendations for you:

1.Vitex (Chasteberry): 160-240 mg of a 0.6 % aucubin standardized extract or 80 drops per day.

2. Indole-3-carbinol : 300 mg/day. It helps the liver in estrogen detoxification.

3.Dandelion root - 300-500 mg of the capsule form or 1 ml of tincture with each meal, 3/day.

4. Vitamin E - 400 IU/day. It helps with estrogen metabolism and inflammation.

5. Essential fatty acids - take 1-2 tablespoons of flaxseed, or 3000-5000 mg of fish oil.

6. Evening primrose oil or Borage oil -
300 mg/day.

7. D-glucarate: 500 mg/day.

8. Natural progesterone - apply 1/4 teaspoon to your skin, twice daily from days 6 to 26 of your cycle. Stop during th eweek of your menstrual flow.

9. Natural Progesterone - Though systemic progesterone use is often indicated, intravaginal application of progesterone cream may provide higher doses to the area needing it, and counter an estrogen dominance at the site.

Fibroids are extremely common. Unless they are causing specific problems, they are often just monitored and left alone. The ultrasound will show where they are, how big they are, and help predict whether they are likely to be a problem. They will also provide a baseline for comparison over the years, so you can tell how fast they are growing, if at all. Sometimes fibroids even shrink as the female sex hormones diminish.

If your doc suggests surgery or other major treatment, consider getting a second opinion. This is one of those areas where different GYNs have different approaches to treatment.