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w w w . s t h e l e n a h o s p i t a l s . o r g | 1 1

Get relief

There are many effective therapies for

fibroids, including:

Medications.

Over-the-counter drugs,

such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen,

may help relieve mild pain.

Prescription hormones, including birth

control pills, may help lessen bleeding.

But they can sometimes cause fibroids

to grow larger.

Hormone-blocking drugs can stop

periods and shrink fibroids. However,

they may cause side effects similar to

menopause, so they are typically used

for six months or less.

Myomectomy.

Fibroids grow inside of

the uterus muscle but can be separated

from the uterus itself. In myomectomy,

the uterus is opened and the fibroid is

removed, leaving the remainder of the

uterus intact.

Uterine artery embolization (UAE).

With UAE, tiny particles are injected into

the blood vessels of the uterus. They

block the blood supply to fibroids, causing

them to shrink. UAE reduces the chance

that fibroids will develop in the future.

But, in about one-third of cases, fibroids

return within five years.

There is a small risk that UAE will cause

early menopause or raise the risk of

miscarriage, so it may not be the best

choice for women who still want to get

pregnant.

Getting enough vitamin D may reduce

a woman’s risk of developing fibroids,

according to a study from the National

Institutes of Health.

Adequate levels of vitamin D have

been associated with a reduced risk

of several diseases, including heart

disease and colon cancer. But this

is the first study to examine the link

between vitamin D and fibroids. These

noncancerous tumors of the uterus are

the leading cause of hysterectomies in

this country.

Researchers used blood tests to

determine the vitamin D levels of 1,036

women ages 35 to 49. They found that

women with vitamin D levels above

20 nanograms per milliliter — typically

considered an adequate amount —

were 32 percent less likely to develop

fibroids than women with vitamin D

below this level.

Foods fortified

with vitamin D,

such as milk

and cereal, are

good sources

of this vitamin.

The body also

makes vitamin

D when skin

is exposed to

sunlight.

Vitamin D

To learn more about treatment

options for fibroids, call 707.963.5006

or visit

www.sthelenahospital.org/

womenservices.

There are many effective ways

to treat fibroids, and the type of

treatment chosen will depend on

the severity of your symptoms

and the fibroid size, number

and location,” says Candace

Westgate, DO, OB-GYN at St.

Helena Women’s Center. “Your

preference and desire for future

childbearing also enters into the

treatment discussion. Not all

treatments are recommended

for all women.

Candace Westgate, DO

May Protect

Against Fibroids

Hysterectomy.

If other treatments fail

or if fibroids are very large, hysterectomy

(removal of the uterus) may be

necessary. It is the only sure way to cure

fibroids, according to the NIH. After a

hysterectomy, a woman can no longer

have children.

John H. Kirk, MD

Candace Westgate, DO

There are many advantages to UAE,”

says John H. Kirk, MD, OB-GYN

at St. Helena Women’s Center. “It

preserves the entire uterus and

ovaries and it is performed as an

outpatient procedure with local

anesthesia with sedation. This means

the woman experiences minimal

recovery time and can return to work

and life faster and with less pain.

John H. Kirk, MD