Becoming a vegan brings a lot of exciting changes with it. People often report weight loss and a feeling of increased energy. Others feel more spiritually connected and cleansed. For some women, a vegan lifestyle is a lifesaver, especially for those diagnosed with fibroids.

Fibroids are benign tumors that grow in the uterus. Seventy percent of women may develop fibroids during their childbearing years, and the condition does not discriminate. Women from any ethnic background can be diagnosed with them. Uterine fibroids cause prolonged bleeding or menorrhagia, clotting, cramps, nausea, and other symptoms. Stress, poor diet, and weight gain exacerbate these growths. Many women will also develop anemia from the condition. 

Johns Hopkins gynecologist Mindy Christianson M.D. told Hopkins Medicine: “Fibroids are typically diagnosed by ultrasound. That’s really the easiest way to see the uterus, and fibroids are usually very easily seen. The first step might be an exam by your doctor, where he or she would feel an enlarged uterus and suspect fibroids. For smaller fibroids, the only way to diagnose them is often with ultrasound. Some doctors may choose to also do an MRI of the pelvis as a way to see exactly where the fibroids are.”

Over time, fibroids can become necrotic, meaning they die when blood stops flowing to them. When this happens, the growths dislodge from the uterus but may fall onto the cervix causing uncomfortable contractions akin to labor pains. This is when medical intervention is needed. Veganism is not a prescriptive measure, so it should never replace advice from a licensed medical professional. Still, a vegan lifestyle is helpful for some diagnosed with fibroids because animal proteins like dairy and red meat are often treated with harmful hormones that feed the growths. Plant-based proteins may provide a respite from fibroid development while allowing women to maintain iron levels that deplete from blood loss. For other sufferers, surgical procedures and medications – or a combination of these measures – may prove effective treatments.

Uterine fibroids can have a debilitating impact on a woman’s life. They impact fertility, affect work productivity, and cause urinary issues. Fortunately, if medications fail or invasive procedures like a hysterectomy or dilation and curettage (D&C) feel too out of reach, diet and exercise may be better options for controlling the condition. Considering a vegan lifestyle as part of a treatment plan may be a successful way to lessen the ravages of this condition.

Sources: Hopkins Medicine, Mayo Clinic