Q A health checkup found a uterine fibroid. Why do fibroids develop in the first place?
A Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that grow in the muscular wall of the uterus. They are known to enlarge under the influence of the female hormone estrogen. They are very common in women of reproductive age and are almost always unrelated to cancer.
Detailed Answer
A uterine fibroid is a benign tumor caused by the abnormal proliferation of the smooth muscle cells that make up the uterine wall, and it is the most common pelvic tumor in women of reproductive age. Although no single cause has been identified, fibroids grow in response to female hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, and they usually shrink after menopause as hormone levels decline. Depending on their location (submucosal, intramural, subserosal) and size, symptoms vary, including heavy menstrual bleeding, menstrual pain, frequent urination, and a sense of pressure in the lower abdomen. In many cases there are no symptoms at all.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
In Korean medicine, a mass that gathers and can be felt in the lower abdomen, such as a fibroid, is understood within the category of jingga (癥瘕), with an underlying basis of blood that fails to circulate properly and becomes stagnant (eohyeol, blood stasis) along with a cold uterine environment (cold patterns). At Dongjedang, rather than forcibly trying to remove the fibroid itself, we focus on easing the internal bodily environment in which blood tends to stagnate and clump, thereby addressing the foundation that influences symptoms and progression.
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