Uterine Fibroids: Causes, Prevention, and Natural Support
In This Article, You’ll Learn:
✅ What uterine fibroids are and why they develop.
✅ How genetic predisposition influences fibroid growth.
✅ The impact of alcohol, antibiotics, and thyroid function on fibroids.
✅ The role of estrogen sensitivity and how to naturally support your body.
What Are Uterine Fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are benign growths that develop in the muscle tissue of the uterus. They vary in size and can cause symptoms like heavy menstrual bleeding, extramenstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, and pressure in the lower abdomen. However, not all fibroids cause noticeable symptoms, and some women only discover them during routine gynecological exams.
While fibroids are common, they don’t develop overnight. Understanding why they form and what factors contribute to their growth is key to both prevention and management.
1. The Role of Genetics: Are Fibroids Inherited?
One of the biggest risk factors for developing fibroids is genetics. If your mother, sister, or grandmother has had fibroids, your chances of developing them increase. However, genetic predisposition does not mean fibroids are inevitable.
🔹 Fibroids tend to develop over 10+ years, meaning early awareness and proactive lifestyle choices can help minimize risk.
🔹 If fibroids run in your family, you may want to monitor your uterine health regularly.
🔹 Genetic factors play a role, but lifestyle and hormonal influences can trigger or worsen fibroid development.
💡 What you can do: Ask family members if fibroids have been a concern, and start tracking your menstrual health early.
2. Alcohol: A Major Trigger for Fibroid Growth
I am not an advocate of extremes however, if you have uterine fibroids, limiting alcohol, can make a big difference to you. Why?
🔹 Alcohol overburdens the liver, making it harder to metabolize and remove excess estrogen from the body.
🔹 Higher estrogen levels contribute to fibroid growth since estrogen is a proliferative hormone that encourages tissue expansion.
💡 What you can do: Reduce alcohol consumption to ease the burden on your liver and support hormone balance.
3. Antibiotics and Their Unexpected Link to Fibroids
Frequent antibiotic use may increase estrogen levels in the body by disrupting gut health.
🔹 The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in estrogen detoxification—if disrupted, estrogen may re-enter the bloodstream instead of being properly eliminated.
🔹 Women who have taken frequent or long-term courses of antibiotics may have higher levels of circulating estrogen.
🔹 Over time, this can create an environment where fibroids are more likely to form and grow.
💡 What you can do: Support gut health with probiotics, prebiotics and glycine, and reducing unnecessary antibiotic use.
4. Thyroid Dysfunction and Fibroid Growth
Your thyroid plays a vital role in hormonal balance, and an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) may contribute to fibroid growth.
🔹 Low thyroid hormone levels can lead to poor estrogen metabolism, causing estrogen dominance.
🔹 Thyroid dysfunction may also affect progesterone levels, which naturally counterbalance estrogen.
🔹 Women with undiagnosed or untreated thyroid issues often experience worsened fibroid symptoms.
💡 What you can do: If you suspect thyroid issues, consider checking TSH, Free T3, Free T4, and thyroid antibodies to get a full picture of your thyroid health.
5. Estrogen Sensitivity: Why It Matters for Fibroids
Even if your estrogen levels appear “normal” on lab tests, your body’s sensitivity to estrogen can still be high.
🔹 Nutrient deficiencies—especially iodine—can cause estrogen receptors to become overly sensitive, increasing the risk of fibroid development.
🔹 Women with chronic inflammation or oxidative stress may experience greater sensitivity to estrogen.
🔹 Fibroids thrive in high-estrogen environments, so reducing exposure to excess estrogens (from food, plastics, or environmental toxins) is key.
💡 What you can do: Support estrogen detoxification by maintaining optimal iodine, zinc, and selenium levels and reducing exposure to hormone-disrupting chemicals.
What Can You Do to Prevent or Manage Fibroids Naturally?
Fibroids develop due to a mix of genetic predisposition and hormonal imbalances. The good news? You can take action to support your body naturally and reduce the likelihood of fibroid growth.
✔️ Minimize alcohol intake to reduce estrogen overload.
✔️ Support gut health to ensure proper estrogen detoxification.
✔️ Check and optimize thyroid function to avoid estrogen dominance.
✔️ Ensure balanced nutrient levels (iodine, zinc, selenium) to regulate estrogen sensitivity.
✔️ Reduce exposure to hormone disruptors from food, plastics, and personal care products.
💡 Want personalized guidance on hormonal balance and fibroid prevention? Book a consultation to uncover the root causes of your symptoms and build a plan that works for you.
