Uterine fibroids and cysts, particularly during childbearing years, are more common than you might think.  Statistics put the number at 70-80% of women who experience fibroids or cysts at some point in their lives. Symptoms vary among women, some find the pain or discomfort unbearable, while others do not experience any symptoms at all.  Just as there are varying degrees of severity for cysts and fibroids, there are also various therapies that are used to treat symptoms.  Some of these include drugs, hormone therapies or surgical removal of individual fibroids or cysts.  For those experiencing severe pain, or perhaps the size of the cyst or fibroid is very great, or maybe there are too many in that they pose a health threat – your doctor may advise surgery to remove the ovaries, uterus or both in a procedure known as a hysterectomy.  

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that grow in the smooth muscle cells within the wall of the uterus. Fibroids can vary in size and number, and can be thought of as fibrous sponges in the uterus.  In some women they have been associated with infertility, miscarriage, and premature labor. Even if they are unaware, the majority of American women will have fibroids by the age of 50.  To put this in perspective, one study found that fibroids were present in 70% of Caucasian women, and 80% of African American women by this age.  Because of varying symptoms and severity however, a good amount of women are likely unaware they have them.  The health care costs for uterine fibroids are over $2 billion yearly.  

Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids:

• Heavy menstrual bleeding

• Lengthy menstrual periods (7+ days)

• Pelvic pressure or pain

• Frequent urination

• Difficulty emptying your bladder

• Constipation

• Back or leg aches/pain

Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled cysts, sac-like structure, which can occur in the ovaries.  Although not everyone experiences symptoms, the symptoms of ovarian cysts are similar to those cause by uterine fibroids. Because there are different types of ovarian cysts, treatment if necessary is typically dependent on the type of cyst.

Symptoms of Ovarian Cysts:

• Abdominal bloating or swelling

• Painful bowel movements

• Pelvic pain associated with menstrual cycle

• Pain during intercourse

• Lower back, leg pain

• Breast tenderness

• Nausea and vomiting

As so many women are affected by uterine fibroids or ovarian cysts, finding natural ways to deal with them is an important venture.  Some doctors claim that changes in diet and lifestyle can help mitigate the symptoms and maybe even stop the growth.  So what kind of changes help?

1. Stop eating white bread: Switching from simple carbs like white bread, flour and rice to more complex carbohydrates like whole fruits and grains. Some conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS,(where many cysts develop regularly) are associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes. Complex carbohydrates, and adding dietary fiber to your food, can stabilize blood sugar levels and slow digestion.  This can help halt the road to diabetes.  

2. Exercise: some studies have shown that women who exercised for at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week had a lower incidence of uterine fibroids.  Similarly obesity is linked to a higher risk of both cysts and fibroids – so keeping up with regular exercise can help reduce your risk through weight maintenance as well.

3. Eat less red meat: One of the risk factors for developing fibroids is eating beef and red meat.  Try eating healthy lean proteins instead like fish and beans.  Some research has even shown that reducing dark meat in your diet can shrink both fibroids and cysts.