Uterine fibroids and anemia

Heavy bleeding, pain, overlap with PMDD, and what happens when you add iron to the mix?

It’s estimated 2/3 women will have fibroids by age 50, and they are the leading prescription for hysterectomy. Thank you Alef Morais for the photo.

It’s estimated 2/3 women will have uterine fibroids by age 50, and fibroids are the leading cause of the recommendation for hysterectomy.

If you have or treat uterine fibroids, you know what a confusing and difficult situation it is.

Looking at the research through a quantum lens, I see a few huge areas for potential noninvasive strategies to reduce the likelihood of getting uterine fibroids, increase the likelihood of slowing or reversing their growth, and for generally supporting wellbeing for women who have fibroids.

The preventable risk factors for uterine fibroids with particularly “quantum” possibilities for intervention: inadequate time outdoors, inadequate darkness, inadequate movement, and too many endocrine disrupting chemicals.

This post is grouped with my Quantum Anemia Theories series because heavy bleeding can lead to an anemia diagnosis.

Here are strategies that may help alongside your other efforts to improve the condition.

Two main supports with the potential to support cases of uterine fibroids:

1. Circadian rhythm support to optimize endogenous melatonin¹: Increase safe solar exposure (1-2 hours per day) / Increase time in real darkness (under 1 lux) overnight (maintenance level for most people is about 10 hours)

2. Decrease exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)

Higher exposure to sunlight is correlated to lower incidence of uterine fibroids

The research shows women spending more than 1 hour outdoors per day have lower incidence of uterine fibroids².

Women who do not sit still for more than two hours at a time also have a lower risk of uterine fibroids³.

These two habits can easily be stacked into a daily practice of taking a postprandial walk outdoors.

In other words, a 10-30 minute outdoor walk after breakfast, lunch, and dinner could potentially reduce risk and severity of uterine fibroids.

Higher exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is correlated with uterine fibroids

The preventative solution? Embrace the “clean girl” aesthetic.

Diluted vinegar hair rinses and natural moisturizers based on tallow or other real ingredients instead of toxic synthetic chemicals⁴.

Naked nails.

No lashes.

Replace cosmetic illusion with your natural beauty.

Disrupted antioxidant systems are associated with uterine fibroids

You don’t have to understand oxidative stress to conquer it.

Uterine fibroids are associated with impaired antioxidant systems⁵.

While dietary antioxidants show mixed results, the body’s own antioxidant systems are on-site and uniquely beneficial.

To support antioxidants like melatonin, glutathione, and bilirubin, it’s imperative to stabilize and strengthen the circadian rhythm:

Here are key considerations for stabilizing and strengthening circadian rhythms in fibroids:

1. A high protein breakfast anchors the peripheral clocks and the circadian rhythm of the microbiome

2. Morning daylight exposure and nighttime darkness entrain the primary circadian clocks

3. Evening environment under 10 lux and sleep environment under 1 lux allows melatonin—key for remodeling the collagen in the fibroids without damaging uterine tissues

If you are new to circadian health, I recommend starting with the evening routine because it can help you sleep better and wake up refreshed enough to catch morning sunlight and have an appetite for breakfast.

Fibroids and anemia

If you have fibroids (or any other condition contributing to heavy periods), I bet you have been recommended iron infusions.

Here’s a trio of posts that may be helpful:

Summary of uterine fibroids lifestyle based approaches:

The research clearly shows lifestyle habits from time outdoors to diet to use of cosmetics and level of activity can all influence the progression of uterine fibroids.

More time outside (aim for 1-2 hours, and it doesn’t have to be in direct sunlight).

More physical activity (walk after each meal).

More nutrition (front-load your meals earlier in the day so you can fast overnight).

More darkness (shut off the overhead lights, use warm orange lamps or wear blue blocking glasses if you can’t control the environment).

Fewer cosmetics products and fewer cosmetic treatments (find natural alternatives).

The problem from a prescriptive mindset is that suggesting a medication or surgery is considered helpful, but suggesting someone might improve their condition by stopping dying their hair and painting their fingernails or by starting to take morning walks seriously is considered rude.

As a doula, I don’t diagnose or prescribe (and I hope no one finds this post rude).

The content of this post is meant for informational purposes only, and I encourage you to discuss this with your qualified healthcare provider to integrate any lifestyle changes you want to make with your existing treatment plan.

Updates from Nikko:

• I have a couple of open spots for 1-1 wellness doula and business doula support

• Pilot research program is open—if you want to learn how to structure your practice so you can publish your results professionally, email me at: nikko@iaqb.foundation

• My shared Research Library has crossed over 1100+ citations! login if you are a member, or join here

If you’ve ever wanted to hand a skeptical provider a real citation, or build a client handout that actually holds up, I’ve already created the tool for it. The Circadian and Quantum Research Library gives you lifetime access to 1,100+ peer-reviewed sources curated across circadian biology, iron metabolism, mitochondrial function, and perinatal physiology, organized in Zotero so you can search, cite, and share from anywhere. One-time access, $97. (already a member? login here).

1. Lin, P., Tung, Y., Chen, H., Chiang, Y., Hong, H., Huang, K., Hsu, S., Huang, T., & Hsia, S. (2020). Melatonin activates cell death programs for the suppression of uterine leiomyoma cell proliferation. Journal of Pineal Research, 68(1), e12620. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpi.12620

2. Baird, D. D., Hill, M. C., Schectman, J. M., & Hollis, B. W. (2013). Vitamin D and the Risk of Uterine Fibroids: Epidemiology, 24(3), 447–453. https://doi.org/10.1097/EDE.0b013e31828acca0

3. Sun, Y., Han, X., Hou, Z., Deng, H., Cheng, N., Zhang, N., Zhang, J., Li, Y., Wang, Q., Yin, J., & Meng, Q. (2023). Association between leisure sedentary behaviour and uterine fibroids in non-menopausal women: a population-based study. BMJ Open, 13(12), e073592. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073592

4. Katz, T. A., Yang, Q., Treviño, L. S., Walker, C. L., & Al-Hendy, A. (2016). Endocrine-disrupting chemicals and uterine fibroids. Fertility and Sterility, 106(4), 967–977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.08.023

5. AlAshqar, A., Lulseged, B., Mason-Otey, A., Liang, J., Begum, U. A. M., Afrin, S., & Borahay, M. A. (2023). Oxidative Stress and Antioxidants in Uterine Fibroids: Pathophysiology and Clinical Implications. Antioxidants, 12(4), 807. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox12040807