Hormonal treatment for fibroids is one of the few procedures which can actually cause shrinkage. However, as with many things, there is a flip side. These options are rarely a long term solution as they do not address why fibroids grew in the first place and are used, more often than not, as a pre-cursor to surgery. In addition, the side-effects can sometimes outweigh the benefits.
The following are well-known options:
* Gonadotrophins-Releasing Hormones
In their natural form, these hormones help the ovaries to release estrogen and progesterone into the body to regulate the menstrual cycle. Artificial GRH can prevent natural GRH from being released, thus stopping the periods. This can cause dramatic shrinkage in existing fibroids and can help a woman manage anemia. However, it is only a short term solution, with regrowth beginning just a few weeks after stopping treatment.
* Mifepristone RU-486
Most commonly called the "abortion pill" this drug is believed to suppress progesterone and therefore stop fibroids from growing. However, it is not used very often for fibroids due to unknown factors which may be associated with it.
* Raloxifen
This is normally taken to help with bone-loss in post menopausal women and is thought to be implicated in fibroid shrinkage, with some women seeing shrinkage of up to 83%. However, it has not been tested on pre-menopausal women and some believe that the effect is just a speeding up of the natural shrinkage which happens post-menopausally so is not yet used as a hormonal treatment for fibroids.
* Androgen Therapy
Danazol can be used to help with heavy bleeding but does not help to shrink fibroids. Gestrinone is sometimes used as a hormonal treatment for fibroids in Europe to help reduce their size. However, side effects include a deeper voice, hair growth and weight gain.
There is no doubt that hormonal treatment for fibroids may have its uses. However, the side effects often make many women suspicious and if your doctor has diagnosed that your fibroids are harmless, you might like to consider a natural treatment which has proved to be highly effective when used as directed.
Written by a nutritionalist, health writer and former fibroids sufferer herself, the system I recommend is groundbreaking and a great alternative to hormonal treatment for fibroids.
The following are well-known options:
* Gonadotrophins-Releasing Hormones
In their natural form, these hormones help the ovaries to release estrogen and progesterone into the body to regulate the menstrual cycle. Artificial GRH can prevent natural GRH from being released, thus stopping the periods. This can cause dramatic shrinkage in existing fibroids and can help a woman manage anemia. However, it is only a short term solution, with regrowth beginning just a few weeks after stopping treatment.
* Mifepristone RU-486
Most commonly called the "abortion pill" this drug is believed to suppress progesterone and therefore stop fibroids from growing. However, it is not used very often for fibroids due to unknown factors which may be associated with it.
* Raloxifen
This is normally taken to help with bone-loss in post menopausal women and is thought to be implicated in fibroid shrinkage, with some women seeing shrinkage of up to 83%. However, it has not been tested on pre-menopausal women and some believe that the effect is just a speeding up of the natural shrinkage which happens post-menopausally so is not yet used as a hormonal treatment for fibroids.
* Androgen Therapy
Danazol can be used to help with heavy bleeding but does not help to shrink fibroids. Gestrinone is sometimes used as a hormonal treatment for fibroids in Europe to help reduce their size. However, side effects include a deeper voice, hair growth and weight gain.
There is no doubt that hormonal treatment for fibroids may have its uses. However, the side effects often make many women suspicious and if your doctor has diagnosed that your fibroids are harmless, you might like to consider a natural treatment which has proved to be highly effective when used as directed.
Written by a nutritionalist, health writer and former fibroids sufferer herself, the system I recommend is groundbreaking and a great alternative to hormonal treatment for fibroids.