Many women are not aware that they even have them. As fibroids grow larger, however, they cause menstrual bleeding to increase, and they become quite painful, especially during menstruation. Eventually, they can press on your surrounding organs, especially the bladder and kidneys, and this sometimes causes such severe symptoms that removal is the only option. Some surgeons, however, are able to remove only the fibroids and keep the uterus intact, but this does not solve the problem. About half of the women who keep their uteruses find that their fibroids grow back.
Fibroids are responsible for about one-third of all hysterectomies.
If you do opt for a hysterectomy, talk to your surgeon about whether or not you should leave your uterus intact. I do not know many women whose fibroids have been eliminated as a result of herbs, but I do know several whose fibroids shrank so much that the women could easily live with them. Since fibroids are rarely life-threatening and generally grow slowly, you may have time to try herbs. You may also be able to speed things along by using other natural healing methods, especially acupuncture, in your therapy. I suggest seeking the help of a natural health care professional who has had success treating fibroids.