/ Health Concerns / Women's Health

Uterine Fibroids

Basics

Fibroids are non-cancerous masses of muscle and tissue that grow in or around the uterus. These growths can range in size from as small as one millimeter to as large as 8 inches and may occur as a single mass or in clusters. While many women with fibroids do not experience any symptoms, others may face heavy or painful menstrual periods, lower back pain, frequent urination, pain during intercourse, pelvic pressure, or reproductive issues such as infertility or miscarriage. Fibroids affect at least 25 percent of women of childbearing age in the U.S., though their exact cause remains unknown.

The herbal formula Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan is commonly used in Chinese Medicine for fibroids and is believed to induce apoptosis (cell death) in fibroid tissues, potentially serving as both a therapeutic and preventive agent. Acupuncture is also a beneficial treatment option as part of a complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approach (Dalton-Brewer 2016 – Narrative review of CAM).