Hello. This is Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic.

Don't Want Uterine Fibroid Surgery? How to keep your uterus healthy without surgery

Many women visit Dalimchae Clinic Incheon Branch with the question, "Do I really need uterine fibroid surgery?" While many feel the burden and fear of surgery after a diagnosis, they often cannot make a decision easily due to worries about worsening symptoms. Fortunately, not all uterine fibroids require surgery, and there are ways to healthily recover the uterus and slow the progression of fibroids without surgery.

💡 [Key Answer] Don't want uterine fibroid surgery? 3 most common causes: ① Hormonal imbalance / ② Blood circulation disorders in the uterus (stagnant blood) / ③ Stress and poor lifestyle habits Dalimchae Clinic restores the fundamental environment of the uterus through constitutional improvement treatment and suppresses the growth of fibroids to help women regain a healthy life.

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors of the uterus so common that they are found in nearly half of women of childbearing age. They mainly appear in women over 35 and occur when smooth muscle cells in the uterus proliferate abnormally. In many cases, they exist without special symptoms, but depending on the location or size of the fibroid, they can cause various discomforts such as excessive menstrual flow, severe menstrual pain, pelvic pain, frequent urination, chronic fatigue, and infertility, significantly lowering the quality of life.

While the exact cause of uterine fibroids is not yet clearly known, it is known that continuous stimulation by estrogen, a female hormone, is deeply involved in the occurrence and growth of fibroids in addition to genetic factors. Also, systemic imbalances such as blood circulation disorders in the uterus, chronic inflammation, stress, and poor eating habits affect the occurrence and aggravation of uterine fibroids. In Korean medicine, it is believed that fibroids are likely to occur when stagnant blood (瘀血) accumulates in the uterus or Gi and blood circulation is not smooth. This means a situation where the uterine environment becomes unhealthy because sufficient nutrients and oxygen are not supplied to the area around the uterus.

Even if surgery is recommended after a uterine fibroid diagnosis, immediate surgery is not necessary in all cases. The treatment policy should be decided by comprehensively considering various factors such as the size, location, presence of symptoms, patient's age, and pregnancy plan. In particular, non-surgical treatments such as Korean medicine treatment can be tried unless the fibroid grows rapidly, causes severe symptoms by compressing the bladder or rectum, causes severe anemia due to excessive bleeding making daily life impossible, or is the direct cause of infertility.

Korean medicine treatment focuses on improving the internal environment of the uterus where fibroids are likely to grow and increasing our body's self-healing power to suppress the growth of fibroids and alleviate related symptoms, rather than aggressively removing the uterine fibroid itself. It is important to promote blood circulation in the uterus, remove stagnant blood, and regain hormonal balance to create a healthy uterine environment.

Korean Medicine Treatment, Effective in Reducing Uterine Fibroid Size and Improving Symptoms

The effectiveness of Korean medicine treatment for uterine fibroids is being confirmed through various domestic and foreign studies.

A study by Li Q et al. published in 'Annals of Palliative Medicine' in 2021 reported the results of a meta-analysis comparing a mifepristone-only treatment group with a treatment group that combined mifepristone with a herbal prescription containing Ejiao or Velvet antler in uterine fibroid patients. In the 7 clinical trials included in this study, the herbal medicine combined treatment group significantly reduced the size of uterine fibroids compared to the mifepristone-only treatment group (SMD: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.33 to 0.85, P < 0.00001) and showed better effects in improving fibroid-related symptoms. Also, in non-menopausal women, benefits such as lowering estrogen (E2) and progesterone levels and reducing the incidence of side effects were confirmed. The researchers concluded that herbal prescriptions including Ejiao or deer antler are effective in reducing uterine fibroid and uterine size, improving symptoms, regulating hormone levels, and reducing side effects. These results suggest the possibility that Korean medicine treatment for uterine fibroids can complement the effects of Western medical treatment and reduce side effects.

Also, the efficacy of green tea extract was reported in a 2013 study by Roshdy et al. In this study, as a result of administering 800mg of green tea extract (45% EGCG) daily for 4 months to women with symptomatic uterine fibroids, the size of uterine fibroids decreased by 32% compared to the placebo group, and significant improvements were also shown in symptoms such as bleeding, anemia, and energy levels. This study showed that green tea extract can have a positive effect on suppressing fibroid growth and alleviating symptoms.

Based on this data, Dalimchae Clinic Incheon Branch is applying constitutional improvement treatment tailored to the patient's constitution and symptoms to resolve the fundamental cause of uterine fibroids.

Dalimchae Clinic's uterine fibroid treatment focuses on constitutional improvement that helps the uterus regain health on its own and prevents fibroids from recurring, beyond simply reducing the size of the fibroid. We aim to create a body where symptoms don't turn on again, rather than just turning them off. The uterus is the core of women's health, and a healthy uterine environment has a significant impact on infertility prevention and overall quality of life.

The uterus and ovaries in our body are closely linked to systemic health such as hormonal balance, blood circulation, and immunity. Therefore, uterine fibroid treatment does not look at the uterus alone but focuses on looking at, regulating, and recovering the health of the five organs and six viscera that closely affect menstruation along with the uterus and ovaries.

1. Customized Herbal Prescription: We prescribe 1:1 individualized customized herbal medicine according to the patient's constitution, type of uterine fibroid, and accompanying symptoms. It suppresses the growth of fibroids and strengthens the function of the uterus by removing stagnant blood, improving blood circulation in the uterus, and regulating hormonal imbalance. In particular, we utilize prescriptions effective in removing stagnant blood and improving uterine circulation, such as Gyejibongnyeong-hwan, and promote systemic health enhancement by adding or subtracting medicinal herbs that nourish (補益) according to each patient's condition.

2. Acupuncture Treatment for Improving Uterine Circulation: We combine acupuncture treatment that promotes blood circulation around the uterus and resolves congestion in the lower abdomen. By placing needles in major acupuncture points related to uterine health such as Sanyinjiao (SP6), Gwan-won (CV4), and Jagung (EX-CA1), we make Gi and blood circulation smooth, alleviate pain, and activate the function of the uterus.

3. Thermal Therapy and Pharmacopuncture Treatment: Thermal therapies such as Wang-tteum (large moxibustion) and herbal sitz baths (sitz/steam) improve circulation around the uterus by warming the lower abdomen and help discharge stagnant blood. Also, the treatment effect can be maximized by directly administering pharmacopuncture, which is a refined extraction of herbal medicines effective for uterine fibroids. These treatments play a role in reducing inflammation and helping the regeneration of uterine tissue.

Through these complex Korean medicine treatments at Dalimchae Clinic Incheon Branch, symptoms such as pain, excessive bleeding, and fatigue due to uterine fibroids gradually improve, and we help reduce the size of fibroids or prevent them from growing further. we find solutions together to regain healthy femininity while preserving the uterus.

If 3 or more of the following questions apply, it is good to suspect uterine fibroids and receive accurate consultation through an Incheon uterine fibroid clinic.

• Did your menstrual flow suddenly increase or did your period get longer?
• Is your menstrual pain getting worse and not well controlled even with painkillers?
• Do you have abnormal bleeding or increased discharge even when it's not your period?
• Does your lower abdomen always feel heavy and uncomfortable, and is there a lump sometimes felt?
• Did urination/defecation problems occur, such as frequent urination or worsening constipation?
• Do you feel chronic fatigue and dizziness (anemia) for no particular reason?
• Does pain persist in your lower back or pelvis?
• Do you have difficulty getting pregnant or a history of miscarriage?

If 3 or more apply: Uterine fibroid suspicion stage, identify the current state through close examination and consultation and review help from an Incheon clinic like Dalimchae Clinic. If 5 or more apply: Immediate visit is recommended. Active treatment is needed to prevent worsening symptoms and create a healthy uterine environment.

Q. Can uterine fibroids disappear naturally? A. Uterine fibroids are benign tumors and may decrease in size due to hormonal decrease after menopause. However, it is rare for them to completely disappear naturally, and it is difficult for the fibroid itself to disappear even if symptoms improve during childbearing years. It is important to aim for suppression of fibroid growth and alleviation of symptoms through active treatment.

Q. How long does Korean medicine treatment for uterine fibroids take? A. The treatment period varies greatly depending on the size, location, and number of fibroids, and the patient's symptoms and constitution. Generally, steady treatment for at least 3 months is required, and the goal is to maintain uterine health and prevent recurrence through long-term management. Dalimchae Clinic Incheon Branch adjusts the treatment plan through regular checkups and consultations.

Q. Is it difficult to get pregnant if you have uterine fibroids? A. Not all uterine fibroids cause infertility, but they can increase the risk of infertility or miscarriage if the location of the fibroid deforms the uterine lining or blocks the fallopian tubes, or if excessive bleeding and chronic inflammation due to fibroids worsen the uterine environment. In such cases, Korean medicine treatment for uterine fibroids can help increase pregnancy chances by improving the uterine environment.

Q. Is it true that taking herbal medicine can actually make uterine fibroids grow larger? A. If you incorrectly take over-the-counter tonics or unverified animal-based medicines without an accurate diagnosis from a Korean medicine doctor, it may not suit your constitution and could affect fibroid growth. However, herbal medicine prescribed for the treatment of uterine fibroids works on the principle of suppressing the neoangiogenesis around the fibroid and improving the uterine environment, so fibroids do not grow larger while taking it. Rather, it helps uterine health by regulating hormonal balance.

Uterine fibroids are not a problem that can be solved by enduring. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If you approach in the right direction, the body responds faster than you think. Bring your symptoms exactly as they are. At Dalimchae Clinic, we will find the cause together.

Where life blooms. For herbal medicine, it's Dalimchae Korean Medicine Clinic. Check your symptoms similar to mine through the AI consultation on the Dalimchae Clinic website first!

This article is health information compiled by Dalimchae medical staff based on questions frequently received in the treatment room. Medical Supervision | Women's/Pregnancy Treatment Standards, Dalimchae Clinic Incheon Branch, Korean Medicine Doctor Yang Yuchan (Uterine Fibroid Column)