This is a question I am often asked as a specialist who treats fibroids. I see and treat many women from across the continent; from Nigeria to Kenya, from Namibia to Botswana; from Johannesburg to Cape Town. Almost all patients want to know what causes fibroids and how to prevent them.

The short answer is very simple – nobody knows what causes them and we for sure do not know how to prevent them.

Debunking myths around fibroids:

Fibroids are not related to diet at all

I have met and treated so many people that follow a variety of diets. The only thing these ladies have in common is their fibroids. Diets range from vegetable eaters only to people who only eat meat; from tripe eaters to atchaar, samp and so forth. While there are foods that are rumoured to cause fibroids, there is certainly no link that we know of between diet and fibroids.

Lifestyle

I have treated many fit, healthy, slim women; many overweight, unhealthy women and many immune compromised women. Again, they all have the same thing in common and that is they have fibroids! The size and number of fibroids is independent of the type of lifestyle they lead.

Yes, fibroids can be hereditary

So if you or anyone else in your family has them, it is likely that your sister, mother, aunt has had or will have them too.

Natural remedies

I have travelled the continent extensively and I have seen a very wide range of ‘natural’ treatments offered for fibroids. They range from crushed ginger to very expensive ‘stuff’ bottled by a pharmacist and labelled “natural cure”. Several people write reviews online about such and such a natural herb that made them better – unfortunately, none of these people can actually show you the results.

If there was a natural remedy, medical researchers would’ve adapted it to form part of mainstream fibroid treatments.
The simple truth is – natural remedies for fibroids do not work and if they DID work, then it was unlikely the individual had fibroids in the first place! Please be careful in consulting unverified sources on cures for fibroids. Not only do they not work but they could be potentially harmful to your health, rather consult with a medical professional.