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I am 34 and I recently had a small 2.5 sm submucusal (inside uterus) fibroid surgically removed. Apparently I have another small one (2 cm.) on the outer side of the uterus which nobody really worries about because it doesn’t interfere with pregnancy.

I have been trying to get pregnant for 1 year – after surgery, we have been trying only 1 month.  I tried acupuncture for fertility before knowing I had the fibroid and I am afraid it actually triggered the fibroid as I started bleeding more and more after each treatment, so now I am scared of acupuncture. I do believe in Chinese herbs and acupressure though. I was wondering if you could recommend me a liver cleanse that wouldn’t interfere with my trying to conceive plan but would help shrinking the remaining fibroid. I do not believe I am atypical fibroid patient though, I am very thin (96 pounds for 5’5”) – my cycles are regular.

I firmly believe that my fibroids came from the anger I hold inside.  Everything started getting worse and worse after I got extremely upset  seeing everybody around me getting pregnant while I was struggling so  much – I used to cry  days and nights and hate the people who got pregnant. Now, thank G-d, I am calmer and I am trying to have faith in G-d and that He il help me having a baby, but helping myself won’t hurt.

Any suggestions are extremely appreciated, I am sorry for the long and confusing email but I am so confused myself and I am looking for help.
 Thank you and have a great day.

Hi,

If you fill out an online evaluation , I can help guide you. Chinese medicine relies on patterns of imbalance to determine the best way to bring the body back in to balance, thus normalize reproductive functions according to TCM. There are not clear patterns allowing me to discern specific imbalances according to Chinese medicine from what you have written beyond Liver Qi Stagnation (which is indicated by the anger and typical with uterine fibroids).

I would suggest that you read our fertility article and uterine fibroid article to understand how Chinese medicine works to improve fertility. You will not be able to use the herbs in the second half of your cycle if you are not on a reliable type birth control (barrier is best because hormonal birth control creates more Liver Qi Stagnation). The woman with the quickest results take a break from trying to get pregnant and use the herbs full time in an effort to bring the body in to balance and becoming ready to conceive.

Typically, if there were Blood and Qi Stagnation of the Lower Jiao, you would have cramping associated with menstruation, clots, or dark/purple bleeding and that would indicate that Stasis in the Lower Palace formula is indicated, but it does not sound like you are experiencing this.

We use the Free and Easy Wanderer with great success in clinic for the Liver Qi Stagnation. With fibroids, you likely also have Internal Dampness and the Restore the Middle Way formula would be indicated, but would use the three formulas together hoping for any significant improvement.  I would also note that acupuncture could not create uterine fibroids.

Kindly,
Catherine Browne, LAc, MH, DiplAc