Muscular tumors (fibroids) in the uterus are one of the most benign tumors that affect the female reproductive system, affecting 80% of women. They are monoclonal tumors that settle in the smooth muscles of the uterus, arise from uterine muscle stem cells, and feed on blood and collagen.

Dangers of uterine fibroids

Although it is not necessary to treat muscle tumors in the uterus, they are a source of suffering for women of childbearing age. Benign uterine tumors threaten women with the risk of infertility or pregnancy complications, and sometimes cause heavy or prolonged bleeding during menstruation, which leads to iron deficiency anemia.

The uterine tumor may also cause flatulence, intestinal symptoms, such as diarrhea or constipation, and urinary symptoms, such as frequent urination, urinary retention, or nocturnal urination.

Hysterectomy is a major option for treating uterine myoma, which is a surgical procedure that eliminates the possibility of childbearing, and has many health consequences. Women resort to it if the diameter of the tumor exceeds 10 centimeters, but there are other options for treating symptoms of a small uterine tumor, including myomectomy. , heat treatments, vascular embolization, focused ultrasound therapy, and pharmacological hormonal therapy.

Reasons for the growth of fibroids

Several epidemiological factors have been associated with the emergence and development of uterine leiomyomas, but the exact cause and mechanisms of uterine leiomyoma development and growth remained not fully understood until the end of 2022.

Last November, scientists at Northwestern University proved the existence of a causal relationship between the growth of uterine fibroids and toxic "phthalates" found in daily consumer products.

Scientists revealed that women exposed to phthalates are at risk of developing uterine fibroids, because phthalates activate a hormonal pathway, which in turn activates a receptor linked to DNA, and causes the growth of fibroids.

Phthalates belong to a class of chemicals, and are used in the manufacture of medical products, food packaging, perfumes, food packaging materials, dairy packaging, and skin and hair care products.

Manufacturers also use it to increase the durability of soft plastic products, such as plastic curtains, car seats, shoes, plastic dishes, and children's toys.

"Phthalates" cannot be completely avoided, because they settle on floors and surfaces, and can be suspended in the dust and air that we breathe, and they can also be transmitted during pregnancy, from mother to fetus, and despite the proven toxicity of this substance, it is not prohibited, and is not governed by regulatory restrictions. , except in the countries of the European Union, and the US Congress banned its use in the manufacture of children's toys alone.

Serdar Bolon, head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Northwestern University, pointed out that "phthalates" harm human tissues, and cause a specific mutation that results in uterine fibroids, affecting about 80% of women during their lifetime, and causing them to suffer from excessive uterine bleeding. , anemia, miscarriage, infertility, and abdominal swelling, all of which are symptoms that require difficult and critical surgeries.

Hysterectomy is a major option for treating uterine myoma, and it is a surgical procedure that eliminates the possibilities of childbearing (Shutterstock)

Can tumor growth be controlled?

Researchers have assumed for decades that any change in a woman's lifestyle will not help her control the potential for muscle tumor growth in the uterus, or slow its growth rate, and several studies have failed to reveal a link between lifestyle and the risk of muscle tumors, until the Women's Health Research Center proved, In Boston University in 2011, women who ate 4 servings of fruit or vegetables per day were less likely to develop uterine leiomyomas, compared to women who ate only 1 serving of fruit or vegetables per day.

According to the results of that study, women with uterine leiomyoma reported lower consumption of vegetables, green fruits, and citrus fruits. Similar to the results of that study, the researchers conducted studies on Italian women, African American women, and Chinese women.

And the researchers proved that eating vegetables and fruits significantly reduces the risk of developing a muscle tumor in the uterus before menopause, and the positive effect was proven when eating two servings of vegetables or fruits per day, and the negative effect was among women who ate one serving of fruits or vegetables per week.

Changing a woman's lifestyle may help her control the potential for muscle tumor growth in the uterus (Pixels)

The Institute of Public Health at George Washington University also suggested reducing fast food intake, according to a study published by researchers at the center, and it was one of the first studies to prove a link between fast food and high levels of toxic "phthalates".

The researchers monitored the diet of 8,877 participants for 24 hours, and checked the participants' urine samples after the day, looking for the breakdown products of two "phthalates".

The data showed an increase in the proportion of toxic "phthalates" to 40%, in samples of people who ate fast food during their day, while "phthalates" did not appear in samples of people who prepared their meals at home.

The researchers also discovered the presence of "phthalates" in higher quantities in cakes, pizza, "tortilla" bread, processed meats, and ultra-processed foods, because they contain artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.

But the researchers acknowledged that verifying a definitive link between junk food and health problems caused by phthalates could take decades.

However, the researchers advised to reduce the rate of eating fast food, because it contains high amounts of fat, salt, and calories of no nutritional value, and to eat more vegetables and fruits, for a diet whose benefits exceed the damage of toxic "phthalates".