Private health

Q:

I have fibroids, which are causing heavy periods, so my doctor prescribed oral contraceptives to ease the bleeding. I took the pills but I didn’t like the side effects, so I stopped taking them. Now she says I should consider a hysterectomy, but that seems extreme. I’m only 45. Is there anything else I can try?

A:

Absolutely. Uterine fibroids are a common cause of heavy bleeding, especially in the perimenopausal years, when imbalances in estrogen and progesterone can fuel their growth. But in my opinion, a hysterectomy should only be considered as a last resort and there are plenty of other strategies that can help ease your symptoms.

One of those strategies is making diet changes. First, try cutting down on processed and red meats since animal fats can increase estrogen levels, causing fibroids to enlarge and produce more bleeding. I also suggest aiming to eat 3 to 5 servings of vegetables daily, as their fiber binds to excess estrogen in the colon to flush it out of the body. And definitely include cruciferous veggies like broccoli, kale, bok choy and cabbage—all of which contain indole-3-carbinol, a compound that’s been shown to improve estrogen excretion.

In addition, consider opting for organic foods when possible since the hormones in conventional meats and dairy can fuel the growth of fibroids. I’d also advise discussing other options with your doctor, such as oral progesterone or progesterone cream, which can help regulate hormones to ease fibroid bleeding.

But if these changes don’t ease your symptoms within three months, you may want to ask your doctor about minimally invasive procedures such as uterine fibroid embolization, which shrinks fibroids by blocking their blood supply.