How Hormones and Uterine Fibroids Affect Each Other
A strong link has already been established between hormones and uterine fibroids. Although no scientific tests have conclusively proven so, most fibroids cases were found to involve a surge of hormones. These tumors were likewise observed to shrink or disintegrate after menopause when the hormone levels significantly drop.
The presence of fibroids do not necessarily cause more trouble in your hormonal levels. However, as you address the imbalance that’s making your fibroids grow bigger in size and in number, you actually have to mess with your hormones.
Doctors may prescribe hormonal treatments to cause the fibroids to shrink and prevent them from causing more symptoms. Fibroids, if they are big enough, could affect the bladder, the rectum, the stomach, and the kidneys. But, these tumors are not known to affect the vascular system or cause vulvodynia.
The Female Hormones
An imbalance in the levels of the female hormones progesterone and estrogen have been found in women with fibroids in their uterus. These hormones fluctuate throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle and studies have shown that fibroids increase and decrease in size following the same fluctuation. The hormones do not exactly cause fibroids, but they affect their growth.
Both hormones are produced by the ovaries in preparation for ovulation and consequent implantation of the fertilized egg. They are at their highest levels during the luteal phase or the 2-week period before a woman’s monthly menstruation (if there is no implantation). Fibroids have also been observed to grow faster and larger during this phase especially if there is more estrogen than progesterone. The tumors were observed in studies to thrive when there is estrogen dominance.
The Growth of Fibroids
Uterine fibroids grow from the mutation of muscle tissue in the uterus. They are smooth and dense growths that can be found inside or outside the uterine cavity. Apart from hormones, genetics and diet are also believed to contribute to their growth. They can be small and unremarkable, but some can grow as big as a basketball and cause serious symptoms.
Larger fibroids growths that put pressure on the rectum and the urinary passageways can affect urination and bowel movement. There are also cases when they cause nerve impingement. But, they do not normally cause vaginal issues like vulvodynia or disrupt the functioning of the vascular system. When fibroids grow large and/or numerous to the extent that they could possibly affect (or are already affecting) quality of life, immediate attention and more aggressive treatment is recommended.
Managing Hormones to Treat Fibroids
Addressing hormonal issues is one of the most common treatment route for managing fibroids non-surgically. Although, there are no guarantees that the fibroids will be completely removed. More success has been reported when the goal of the treatment is to shrink the fibroids, usually in preparation for surgical removal.
Medicines that control the production of estrogen and progesterone are prescribed to manage the symptoms of fibroids and to shrink the tumors. GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) antagonists are usually prescribed for short-term treatments of three months to six months. These medications mess with your hormones and induce a ‘temporary’ menopause.
While the fibroids problem is addressed by hormonal medications, patients usually have to endure the symptoms of menopause while on hormonal treatment. They also cannot get pregnant until several weeks or months after the medication is stopped.
Not All About Fibroids
Patients with symptomatic cases of uterine fibroids often have to deal with a string of health problems not limited to those that have to do with hormones. They could also have other conditions like vulvodynia and other vascular diseases that are completely unrelated to their fibroids. Since a lot of the symptoms could be similar and are mostly felt in the same general area (abdomen and pelvis), it is easy to misdiagnose and resort to the wrong treatment. Consulting your doctor is the only way to find out if you really have fibroids caused by messed up hormones or if you have vulvodynia, a vascular disease, or any other ailment.
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