Uterine Fibroids are non cancerous growths found in different parts of your womb, made up of muscle and fibrous tissue. The clinical name for Fibroids is uterine myomas or leiomyomas. Fibroids mainly affect women who have not been through the menopause. Anyone with a womb can get them. Symptoms of fibroids   Depending on the size and location of your fibroids, symptoms vary. They do not always need to be treated, but can be if they’re causing problems. The most common symptoms are; Heavy periods or painful periods Tummy (abdominal) pain Lower back pain Needing to wee regularly Finding it difficult to poo (constipation)  Pain or discomfort during sex Tiredness from low iron (anaemia)  If you are experiencing the above symptoms but have not yet spoken to a doctor, we strongly urge you to seek medical advice. We exist to help women diagnosed with fibroids manage their symptoms, we are not a clinical body and cannot give medical advice. How big are uterine fibroids  Fibroids can be as small as a seed or in rare cases as large as a watermelon. Size doesn’t always indicate scale of symptoms, sometimes smaller fibroids can cause as many issues as large ones. Types of uterine fibroids There are 4 different types of fibroids, depending on which ones you have, your symptoms may differ.  Intramural Fibroids Location: These are the most common type and grow embedded right inside the muscular wall of your womb. Symptoms: They can make your womb larger and cause heavy bleeding or pain in your lower tummy area. Submucosal Fibroids Location: They grow just under the inner lining of your womb. They may poke into the hollow space inside your womb. Symptoms: These fibroids are the most likely to cause very heavy, prolonged menstrual bleeding and can cause problems getting pregnant. Subserosal Fibroids Location: This type grows on the outer surface of your womb. They can grow quite large and expand into your lower belly. Symptoms: They may press on nearby organs like your bladder or back passage (rectum), leading to symptoms related to peeing or pooing. Pedunculated Fibroids Location: This is the least common type. They attach to your womb with a thin stem or stalk, which is why they are often described as mushroom-like. Symptoms: The stalk can sometimes twist, which causes severe pain. For more information on Fibroid symptoms and treatment, visit NHS England

Medical Disclaimer - The information provided is intended to inform and educate women with Fibroids only,  it is not a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare professional in diagnosing and treating Fibroids.   Does magnesium help with Fibroids symptoms? Research has found magnesium can help ease common Fibroids symptoms. Studies indicate that magnesium has a role in relaxing smooth muscle, improving sleep and decreasing inflammation, which may lessen the severity of symptoms associated with fibroids. But which magnesium should you be taking? What the science says  Magnesium is widely recognised for its anti-inflammatory effects, its capacity to promote muscle relaxation, and its role in regulating sleep. Notably, maintaining sleep health which has been shown to mitigate pain, stress and fatigue symptoms in those with fibroids.  While consumer reports indicate potential benefits in alleviating severe premenstrual symptoms associated with fibroids, clinical evidence remains inconclusive and does not establish a causal relationship. Nevertheless, the prevailing body of research supports a complementary role, largely attributable to magnesium’s established physiological functions.  What magnesium can and can’t do Evidence suggests it may support ✔️ Decreasing inflammation ✔️ Relaxing smooth muscle in the uterus ✔️ Sleep health What it does not reliably do ❌ Guarantee symptom improvement (e.g. bleeding or pain) ❌ Replace medical or surgical treatment ❌ Reduce the size or number of fibroids Magnesium should be viewed as long-term support for various symptoms associated with fibroids, not a standalone treatment. The right type of magnesium for Fibroids Magnesium is an essential mineral that helps regulate the body’s calcium and blood sugar levels. It’s particularly important for our bones, nerves, muscles and cardiovascular system. Magnesium is involved in over 300 metabolic reactions in our body regulating muscle contraction, inflammation, and energy production. Having the right levels of magnesium may help the body respond more calmly to hormonal changes throughout the menstrual cycle, mitigating effects such as irritability, fatigue, poor sleep and menstrual cramps.  If you’re looking for magnesium supplements for your fibroids, it’s important you buy the right type for you.  Types of magnesium supplements Magnesium Citrate: combined with citric acid, this form has high absorption and is frequently used as a natural solution for constipation. Magnesium Malate: a compound of magnesium and malic acid, this type plays a key role in energy production and is often used for chronic pain conditions like fibromyalgia. Magnesium Glycinate: a chelated supplement of magnesium and glycine, this form is used for reducing stress and improving sleep.  Magnesium Taurate: a chelated supplement of magnesium and amino acid taurine, is often used for cardiovascular support. Magnesium Oxide: a salt that combines both magnesium and oxygen, this poorly absorbed form is most commonly used for treating constipation. Magnesium L-Theronate: highly efficient at crossing the blood-brain barrier, its commonly used for supporting cognitive function Magnesium Chloride: an ionic compound and common magnesium salt, this kind is usually found as a topical magnesium supplement for muscle aches.  Which type is advised for treating symptoms linked to fibroids? Magnesium Glycinate This type is most commonly associated with alleviating premenstrual symptoms due to its high bioavailability and minimal gastrointestinal side effects.. For those with fibroids, where digestive sensitivity is a known symptom, this form of magnesium is a particularly good option. When and how should I take it? Medical Disclaimer - The information provided is intended to inform and educate women with Fibroids only,  it is not a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare professional in diagnosing and treating Fibroids.   Correct use of medications and supplements is not a concern for health however ingestion of large amounts of magnesium may result in nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and stomach upset. It’s best to take magnesium glycinate in the evening, about an hour before bed, to help with sleep-related symptoms. Ideally, between 100-300mg should be taken with a glass of water. Although magnesium glycinate is easy on the stomach, if you have a particularly sensitive tummy (especially during your period) starting with a lower dose can help you gauge tolerance. Magnesium glycinate can be taken with or without food.  Where to buy the right type of Magnesium for fibroids? There are many stores online and on the high street that supply Magnesium Glycinate in the right dosage. To save you time we've curated recommended brands that meet the criteria suited to women with Fibroids here.  References 🔗 Tonick et al., Magnesium in Women’s Health and Gynecology (2016) 🔗 Moslehi et al., The Association Between Serum Magnesium and Premenstrual Syndrome (2019) 🔗 Fathizadeh et al., Evaluating the effect of magnesium and magnesium plus vitamin B6 supplement on the severity of premenstrual syndrome 🔗 He et al., The Mechanisms of Magnesium in Sleep Disorders 🔗 Zhang et al., Association of magnesium intake with sleep duration and sleep quality: findings from the CARDIA study

Clotting, flooding and heavy periods are the most common symptoms of fibroids, by what is the cause?

There's a lot of talk about Vitamin D and Fibroids, but does it actually help, and if so, what do you need to know.