The information presented here is for general educational purposes only. Each of us is biochemically and metabolically different. If you have a specific health problem and wish my personalized nutritional recommendation, write me by clicking here. br Uterine fibroids (uterine leiomyoma) are noncancerous tumors consisting of fibers or fibrous tissue that arise in the uterus. Growth is most common female genital tract. These tumors are highly sensitive to estrogen. They develop following the onset of menstruation, enlarge during pregnancy, and decrease, often disappear after menopause when estrogen levels are reduced by half. They can be as small as a chicken egg, or commonly grow to the size of an orange or grapefruit. The largest fibroid on record weighed over 100 pounds. That affects many women, especially from age 35 to 50. One in 5 women in the U.S. have at least some evidence of fibroids. Discovery is usually accidental, and coincidental with the longer period, irregular bleeding, and / or painful periods. br In cases where the size of tumors of other commitments bodily functions such as compression of the bladder or bleeding, many have indicated surgery. The most common surgery is a hysterectomy when the uterus is removed. Many hysterectomies, is however, performed before the patient reaches that stage. In fact, more than 500,000 hysterectomies are performed each year in the U.S. only. br Dr. Stanley West, chief of reproductive endocrinology and infertility at St. Vincents Hospital in New York and author of the joke of the hysterectomy, she firmly believes that hysterectomy is seldom indicated unless a woman has cancer. Looking back in history, it is interesting to note that to unopposed estrogen, was given as hormone replacement therapy in the 1960s, uterus (endometrium) was very rare. We now know that the endometrial cancer is clearly linked to unopposed estrogen. More commonly, endometrial cancer usually starts around 5 years before the onset of menopause during the period before menopause, when estrogen is still abundant. br During the period prior to menopause, estrogen is still relatively high, while the progesterone level falls rapidly, compared to before. Remember that estrogen and progesterone are two of balancing female hormones. One precludes the other. It is this balance that is critical in female Maintaining optimum heath. br Estrogen dominance is due to several reasons. First, many women in their thirties begin to have anovulatory (without ovulation), menstrual cycles. These periods can be verified by monitoring the levels of progesterone serum or saliva of the following week is ovulation. A low reading indicates a lack of ovulation. Without ovulation, progesterone is not all important secret, and the body is flooded in a sea of estrogen, creating an environment of estrogen dominance. Second, even if the normal menstrual cycle, as a woman approaches the decade before menopause, the amount of progesterone produced is much lower in comparison with estrogen. As a result, estrogen / progesterone ratio is higher. Third, our body is exposed to environmental estrogens found in our food and household goods. Commercially grown vegetables contain pesticide residues whose chemical structure is similar to estrogen, and livestock and poultry raised commercially are fed a variety of hormones. Petrochemical compounds in general consumer products such as creams, lotions, soaps, shampoos, perfumes, hair spray, deodorants and are omnipresent. These compounds often have chemical structures similar to estrogen. Finally, chronic stress experienced by modern women leads to adrenal exhaustion and reduced progesterone production. The end result is clear we live in a world of estrogen dominance. This is that estrogen dominance is a strong causal factor. br While a fibroid itself does not usually lead to cancer or become cancerous, it is clear that the signs of an underlying serious imbalance in the womans reproductive and hormonal system. In particular there is a predominance of estrogen and progesterone deficiency. These imbalances affect not only the uterus, and affect the hormonesensitive tissues like the other breast, cervix, ovaries and vagina as well. If not taken care of, the consequences can be devastating. br br
