Uterine Fibroids: From Hormones to Healing Paths
Understanding Uterine Fibroids
Tracy Tranchitella, ND | Sunrise Functional Medicine
Uterine fibroids—also known as leiomyomas—are incredibly common, affecting millions of women worldwide. They’re benign growths that form in or on the uterine wall, and while they’re not cancerous, they can have a huge impact on daily life. Some people never know they have them. Others deal with heavy periods, pain, fertility challenges, and a general sense that something in their body is just… off.
Conventional statistics show that fibroid rates have risen dramatically in recent decades, and many cases go undiagnosed simply because symptoms can be subtle. There’s also a wide variation in how women experience them: Black women, in particular, tend to develop fibroids earlier, more often, and with more severe symptoms—a trend tied not only to genetics but also to environmental exposures, systemic stress, and health inequities.
Why Fibroids Develop
There isn’t one single cause of fibroids, but research points to a combination of hormonal, genetic, metabolic, and environmental influences. Age and family history play a role, as do modifiable factors like physical activity, diet, inflammation, and long-term stress. Obesity, high blood lipids, and metabolic syndrome appear to increase risk—suggesting a strong cardiometabolic component. Low vitamin D levels are also consistently linked to fibroid growth.
Environmental toxicants are another major piece of the puzzle. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), heavy metals, pollutants in air and water, and certain cosmetic and hair-care chemicals may all influence how fibroids form and grow. These exposures aren’t evenly distributed. Higher levels of toxic exposure among Black women—combined with chronic stress associated with “weathering”—help explain why fibroids can be more severe and harder to treat in this population.
Common Signs and Symptoms
Fibroids don’t always announce themselves. They’re sometimes discovered during routine exams or imaging. But when symptoms do show up, they often look like:
- Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding
- Bleeding between periods or anemia
- Pelvic pain, cramping, pressure, or a feeling of fullness
- Pain with intercourse
- Low back pain
- Frequent urination from pressure on the bladder
- Fertility challenges, recurrent pregnancy loss, or pregnancy complications
Not every fibroid needs treatment—but the ones that interfere with quality of life definitely deserve attention.
Treatment Options: Beyond Hysterectomy
Hysterectomy is still one of the most common treatments for fibroids, yet it’s not the only—and often not the first—option. Even when the ovaries are left intact, hysterectomy can increase long-term health risks. Many women understandably want alternatives that preserve hormonal balance, fertility, or simply bodily autonomy.
Conventional non-surgical options include hormonal therapies, birth control, medications that shrink fibroids, or minimally invasive procedures such as high-intensity ultrasound, uterine artery embolization, or surgical removal. These can be helpful but may not address the underlying drivers of fibroid growth.
This is where functional and naturopathic medicine shine: identifying and supporting the deeper systems involved in hormone signaling, inflammation, detoxification, and metabolic function.
A Functional Medicine Approach with Dr. Tranchitella
Dr. Tranchitella works with patients to understand why fibroids developed and what can be done to slow their growth, reduce symptoms, and support long-term hormonal health. Treatment often includes:
- Balancing hormones, especially estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen dominance—whether due to excess estrogen, low progesterone, poor detoxification, or environmental exposures—can promote fibroid growth.
- Improving detoxification pathways. Supporting liver function, gut health, and healthy elimination helps the body process and clear hormones more efficiently.
- Reducing systemic inflammation. Diet, targeted supplements, and lifestyle changes can lower inflammatory load, improving symptoms and slowing fibroid progression.
- Stabilizing blood sugar and insulin. Healthy glucose metabolism plays a key role in hormonal balance.
- Addressing nutrient deficiencies. Vitamin D, antioxidants, and micronutrients such as selenium and carotenoids support uterine health.
- Reducing exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). This may include evaluating beauty products, plastics, food packaging, and water quality.
- Optimizing exercise and stress management. Movement and stress resilience directly influence metabolic and hormonal health.
There’s also growing evidence for targeted botanicals and nutrients. Curcumin (from turmeric) has shown promising results in reducing fibroid activity; green tea extract (EGCG) may shrink fibroids and reduce heavy bleeding; and probiotics/prebiotics support gut health, which in turn influences estrogen metabolism. Diets rich in cruciferous vegetables, brightly colored produce, fiber, and calcium-rich foods can further support hormonal stability and decrease risk.
When Symptoms Need Extra Support
Acupuncture is another helpful option, especially for pelvic pain, heavy periods, and stress regulation. Some studies even show reductions in fibroid size with consistent acupuncture care. At home, heat therapy, gentle exercise, rest, yoga, and breathwork can help ease discomfort during symptomatic days.
A Collaborative, Integrative Path Forward
Fibroids are common, but they’re also deeply personal. Every woman’s experience is shaped by her genetics, environment, metabolism, stress load, and life stage. Dr. Tranchitella takes all of these pieces into account, helping patients build a comprehensive plan that’s tailored—not cookie-cutter—and grounded in reducing the root causes of fibroid growth.
For women hoping to avoid surgery or simply wanting a more holistic, whole-body approach, functional medicine offers a path that supports hormonal balance, reduces inflammation, and empowers long-term well-being. Learn more and request a consultation >>