Fibroids and cysts are common in women when they reach reproductive age. While most fibroids are non-cancerous and benign, they can cause pelvic pain and heavy bleeding. So, many women rely on home remedies like drinking hot water to get relief from pain. But can drinking hot water shrink fibroids or is this a myth?
From hot water to ginger – people suffering from uterine fibroids try several natural treatments for easing the pain. So, want to know which remedy is the most effective when it comes to reducing the size of fibroids without surgery? In this article, we will share everything you need to know about dealing with fibroids.
Table of Contents
Meaning of fibroids
If you are wondering ‘Can drinking hot water shrink fibroids?’, first you must know what are fibroids.
Fibroids are a type of noncancerous development found in the female reproductive system. Doctors also refer to them as fibromas or uterine myomas. They are compact, firm tumors that are formed of fibrous tissue and muscle cells. You can have a single fibroid or several of them.
Curious to know the standard sizes of fibroids? They can be as tiny as seeds or even bigger than grapefruits. But how common are these growths in middle-aged women? Women’s health statistics reveal that 20-80% of the females may end up having fibroids by the time they reach their 50s.
Fibroids are different from cysts as the latter denotes sacs containing fluid. Moreover, cysts develop outside and inside the ovaries. However, there is no reason to panic as in most cases, they are both non-cancerous.
Note: 99% of uterine fibroids are not cancerous. Another thing about them is that they go undiagnosed as only a third of them are big enough to become visible in physical exams.
What can cause fibroids?
As far as the reason behind the development of fibroids is concerned, there are various theories.
- Hormones- According to doctors, progesterone and estrogen have impacts on the formation of cysts and fibroids.
- Environmental toxins- Constant exposure to specific pollutants and chemicals may also increase your chances of getting fibroids. So, being mindful of your surroundings is important.
- Genetics- When doctors checked the family history of many women with fibroids, they discovered that their mothers also had them.
- Inflammation- Certain conditions such as uterine infections or Crohn’s disease are accountable for causing inflammation. Inflammation may lead to the formation of fibroids.
- Obesity- Women who are overweight are more likely to suffer from fibroids. So, that gives you yet another reason to manage weight gain through dieting and exercise.
- Age- Age is another factor as most women complain of getting fibroids in their 40s. There is nothing you can do about it other than maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Fibroids and their symptoms
The symptoms and signs of fibroids can differ depending on their location, size, and number. Many women have zero symptoms, but others experience:
- Difficulty conceiving
- Periods lasting longer than 7 days
- Pelvic cramps or pressure
- Constipation
- Frequent urination
- Bleeding or spotting between periods
- Leg pain or backache
- Heavy bleeding during menstruation
- Difficulty urinating
Wondering how to find out if you have fibroids? An ultrasound will gather images of your uterus and confirm if there are fibroids.
Can drinking hot water shrink fibroids?
While many people with fibroids claim that having hot water helps shrink them, there isn’t enough evidence. More scientific research needs to be conducted that can prove the effectiveness of hot water. Moreover, it is a simple home remedy and therefore, you cannot expect immediate results.
Hence, the answer to this question is not that simple as every woman’s body is different. It is true that some people’s fibroids have shrunk after drinking hot water daily. There are others who did not notice any change in fibroids’ size. Ultimately, as an individual, you are free to decide if you’d like to drink hot water.
So, you may drink warm water as it is excellent for your overall well-being. Some of the obvious health advantages are that your digestion and constipation issues will improve. Additionally, consuming hot water before sleeping can promote undisturbed sleep. It also boosts metabolism, facilitates weight loss, betters blood circulation, and decreases stress. Even if it’s unable to shrink your fibroids, you will get relief from the pain.
Note: Drinking hot water does not mean you can drink it when it’s steaming hot. That will harm your body in many ways. So, before you start sipping, please check the temperature to ensure it is drinkable.
Home remedies for fibroids
How can I shrink my fibroids naturally? Is a recurring question on the internet. Lifestyle alterations, food, natural remedies, and stress management are some amazing techniques to deal with symptoms. Hence, while consuming boiling water may fail to contract fibroids, these are some other remedies to lessen symptoms:
Eat nutritious food
As fibroids are a hormone-related condition, what you eat can make a difference. If you consume red meat and other saturated fats regularly, your estrogen levels will be high. This can worsen your fibroids, especially if the fiber intake is low.
A well-balanced diet with lots of veggies and fruits will decrease your chances of getting fibroids. It will also prevent the existing fibroids in your body from getting bigger. However, if you think a nutritious diet will remove fibroids from your system, that won’t happen.
Have ginger and garlic
Ginger stimulates the endocrine glands and establishes hormonal balance. So, it will stop the excess production of estrogen and stunt the growth of fibroids. For best results, you can have ginger tea, ginger capsules, or grated ginger.
Garlic is another ingredient commonly found in every kitchen and it can be used to treat fibroids. As it is an incredible source of vitamins B6 and C, it will balance female hormones. It has antioxidant properties and will prevent further growth of fibroids. Chewing garlic cloves will also eliminate catabolic wastes from the uterine tissues and pelvic cavity.
Have olive oil
If estrogen levels are within the normal range, there will be no risk of uterine fibroids. Olive oil can block oxygen and prevent the growth of your fibroids. You can cook food in olive oil or mix a spoon of it in water and drink it every morning.
Monitor your blood pressure
According to a Dutch study, there can be a link between fibroids and high BP. High BP can pose more serious threats to your health. So, keep your blood pressure in check by:
- Limiting the intake of sugar, red meat, and salt
- Buying a blood pressure monitor to monitor your BP at home
- Getting physical activity daily
- Not skipping the blood pressure medicines prescribed by your physician
Reduce weight
A clinical study conducted in China proved that obesity doubles the risk for fibroids. As fat cells produce high levels of estrogen, your fibroids will get worse. So, lose weight and the fibroids can get smaller automatically.
Watchful waiting
If you make healthy lifestyle choices, you can lead a normal life despite having uterine fibroids. They are generally harmless and won’t interfere with your plans of getting pregnant. So, most people consider watchful waiting an ideal option.
After menopause, the levels of pregnancy hormones will go down. That’s when your fibroids will contract on their own.
Should you visit a doctor if you have fibroids?
Your uterine fibroids may not require treatment if they don’t cause any problems. Most of them do not grow and even if they do, after menopause they’ll reduce in size. However, you should also monitor their size occasionally, and therefore, yearly pelvic exams are necessary.
Sometimes, fibroids are responsible for excessive bleeding during menstruation. So, you should book an accomplished gynecologist who will keep track of their growth from time to time. Going for such check-ups will also detect other issues at the earliest.
Moreover, be it fibroids or some other condition of the uterus, self-medication can be dangerous. Therefore, before taking tablets to shrink fibroids or opting for alternative treatments – discussing it with your doctor is compulsory.
How do doctors treat fibroids?
By now one thing is clear and that’s your fibroids are here to stay. Although the home remedies will improve your condition, none of them promises a permanent cure. So, for someone annoyed with the symptoms of fibroids, it’s natural to consider hysterectomy.
Is there some new treatment for fibroids without surgery? The kind of treatment will depend on the severity of your symptoms and these are the best options:
Abdominal myomectomy
As the name suggests, abdominal myomectomy involves the removal of fibroids after making a large cut in the abdomen. Doctors recommend this surgery if a person has multiple fibroids which are large in size. This type of traditional open surgery can decrease your chances of conceiving in the future.
Hysterectomy
A surgical procedure that involves eliminating the uterus is known as a hysterectomy. It is the only permanent solution for fibroids but it ends your possibility to become a mother. However, if you have made up your mind to not bear children, you can opt for a hysterectomy and remove your ovaries as well.
Then you will get your menopause early and you won’t have periods anymore. After hysterectomy, many women need hormone replacement therapy to make the side effects of menopause bearable.
Hysteroscopic myomectomy
If your fibroids are all inside the uterus, this procedure can be a befitting option for you. It can effectively get rid of submucosal fibroids. The surgeon will use tools and place them through your vagina into your uterus for removing the fibroids.
Robotic or laparoscopic myomectomy
If you have a few fibroids and they are small, you may proceed with c. During the operation, the doctor will make small incisions in your stomach and insert slender instruments through those cuts.
A tiny camera will be attached to one of those instruments so that the doctor gets a 3D view of the fibroids and the whole uterus. Sometimes, the medical team also uses a robotic system to perform this laparoscopic procedure flawlessly. Hence, this procedure can give more accurate results than other techniques.
Laparoscopy can be an option even if the fibroids are large. In such cases, the instrument breaks them into small pieces and then takes them out.
Uterine artery embolization
An interesting procedure is uterine artery embolization. First, the doctor will inject embolic agents into your arteries. These agents will stop the arteries from supplying blood to the uterus, thus forcing the fibroids to shrink and then die.
If not done properly, certain complications can arise during the operation. For example, the blood supply to other organs may decrease accidentally. However, this is rare and very few people require blood transfusion after uterine artery embolization.
To Sum Up
You must know that a lot of women of childbearing age have fibroids and many of them aren’t even aware. Most people don’t experience any symptoms and their fibroids often shrink naturally. So, you can follow the above-mentioned home remedies as they are all devoid of side effects.
Lastly, can drinking hot water shrink fibroids? We have already provided the answer to this question. Hence, you should consult a vet as they’ll suggest the best solution based on the size of your fibroids.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How I shrink my fibroids naturally?
You can experiment with natural ways to shrink fibroids as they will not harm your body. Some foods that you should eat regularly are ginger, garlic, turmeric, lemon juice, olive oil, beetroot, and honey.
2. Can drinking hot water shrink fibroids?
There isn’t enough evidence to prove that consuming hot water can shrink fibroids. However, you can take hot water in a hot bag and apply it to your stomach. This will alleviate the pain you experience during periods.
3. How fast can you shrink fibroids?
If you depend on natural remedies to shrink fibroids, it will take time and you have to be consistent. Medical intervention, on the other hand, will give quick results.
