To get straight to the point, Ablation therapy does not treat fibroid tumors. Endometrial Ablation only treats the symptoms of fibroids like heavy bleeding and clotting. The technique only destroys the lining of the uterus (endometrial lining) but does not access or treat intrauterine (submucosal, subserosal or intramural) fibroids tumors. Ablation may stop the bleeding but the procedure is a false sense of hope for dealing long term with fibroids. The tumors will continue to grow as long as they remain in the uterine muscle and are fed with an estrogen supply. Treat your disease, not your symptoms!
Endometrial Biopsy for Diagnosis???
Endometrial biopsies are a fairly common minor procedure performed in many gyn offices when patients are experiencing heavy painful periods. The technique involves sticking a needle into the uterine lining to obtain a small tissue sample; it can be very painful and often produces inconclusive information. Blind biopsies, via either needle or currette, can very easily completely miss the area in question, rendering an inaccurate outcome. When dealing with fibroids and adenomyosis, biopsies of the lining do not render any information as to the make up of the tumors. The biopsy is strictly giving information about the uterine lining. The procedure is rather like sticking an needle in an orange to try to locate a seed…..probably not successful. If you have fibroids, or adenomyosis, taking a blind biopsy of endometrial tissue does not render a conclusive diagnosis about your disease….
Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy in Women
We recently had a patient in the office who was diagnosed and treated 10 years ago for fibroid tumors and endometriosis. She had experienced early menopausal symptoms of hot flashes and mood swings. At that time her naturopath recommended a bio-identical estrogen supplement. She was told that hormone therapy would NOT have an effect on any possible remaining fibroids. Sadly, this is not true. She now has a 7cm fibroid producing serious low back pain. IF you have any female disorder that requires estrogen to proliferate: fibroids, endometriosis, or adenomyosis, you run the risk of recurrent disease once you begin hormone supplementation.
D&C for Bleeding
What is a D&C? It stands for Dilatation and Curettage. This is a minor surgical procedure that is often recommended by healthcare practitioners to treat heavy bleeding. The cervix is dialated and a small curette is used to scrape the lining of the uterus away. This can significantly reduce bleeding until the lining is regenerated. Unfortunately, a D&C is used all too often as a treatment for fibroid tumors and adenomyosis. This procedure can temporarily reduce the bleeding symptoms but does nothing to actually treat the primary diseases. Women often get a false sense of security once the bleeding is reduced…..take care, the fibroid tumors and adenomyosis are still growing.
