What Every Black Woman Should Know about Uterine Fibroids
Uterine Fibroids are benign tumors that form within or on the uterus. Studies show that Black women are disproportionately more at risk of being diagnosed with uterine fibroids. The National Institutes of Health report that by age 50, 80% of black women will have uterine fibroids.
The first time I had heard of fibroids was when I was a young child and my mother told me she would be having a myomectomy, a surgerical procedure that is done to remove fibroids from the uterus. The next time I had heard my mother speak about this was in the Fall of 2015 when she told me that she would be having a hysterectomy performed in order to remove the football sized fibroid that was had grown along the lining of her uterus. Though non-cancerous, much too often the presence of uterine fibroids result in the performance of a hysterectomy to permanently stop the risk of recurrent uterine fibroids or to prevent an extreme case from worsening.
Symptoms of uterine fibroids include:
- Fertility problems
- Complications during pregnancy
- Increased pain during sexual intercourse
- Heavy menstruation
- Painful cramping
- Abdominal swelling
(See Women’s Health for additional information).
Though research studies do support the fact that Black Women are more at risk of fibroids not many studies give reason as to why. However,in 2012, The American Journal of Epidemiology published a research study that suggests hair relaxers are part of the reason uterine fibroids are so prevalent in Black women. The study states, “Hair relaxers can cause burns and lesions in the scalp, facilitating entry of hair relaxer constituents into the body”. The chemicals within hair relaxers can cause a variety of side effects to one’s hair, and as the study suggests, the development of uterine fibroids can be a result. Even though, there are not many other research studies that explore the correlation between perms and uterine fibroids, the data brought forth in this particular study does enough to raise more than a few eyebrows towards the industry of hair relaxers.
Black women are 2–3 times more likely to have an occurrence of uterine fibroids in their lifetime than white women. Therefore it is of the utmost importance that we visit a gynecologist regularly so that we are always aware of what is going on with our bodies. In the case of hair relaxers, knowing what ingredients are used in the products we choose to put in our hair is crucial. It is also important to remember, though a hysterectomy is a possible solution, surgery is not the only option. Dr. Tori Hudson speaks of several natural dietary changes that can help o reduce the growth of a fibroid tumor. Some of these include:
- Botanical herbs such as Echinacea Root/Red Root , Scudder’s Alterative, and other herbal formulations can help to shrink uterine fibroids in size and inhibit further growth
- Increasing one’s intake of nutritional supplements such as inositol and choline which help to promote healthy liver functioning. However, it is important that one consults a doctor before taking the supplement being that it can have side effects.
- Natural Progesterone.
(See this link for further information)
Lome Roots is a natural herb formulated medicine which contains theEchinacea root and the product is an effective medicine that helps with common illnesses such as fibroids, hemorrhoid, sterility, diabetes, etc. If you are someone who has been diagnosed with uterine fibroids, speak with your doctor about all of the best possible options and do research as well so that you may possibly avoid a surgical procedure that might be preventable. For more information on the product Lome Roots check out our website www.insidelome.com
Related Articles: MadameNoire “Perms Link to Uterine Fibroid Tumors and Early Puberty”
The Root “If You’re a Black Woman Considering Fibroid Surgery, You Must Read This”
