On Saturday 18th July 2020, we were delighted to have assisted with the Global Fibroids Alliance’s first event which was a webinar on Fibroids and COVID-19. This webinar aimed to explore the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic may be having on women with fibroids and discussed what women can do to improve their physical and mental health during this challenging period.

Speakers on the day included:

• Dr Fanta Waterman, Managing Director, Serrette Brown Research and Consulting LLC who provided an overview of COVID-19, the latest information with regards to the pandemic, fibroids management during lockdowns and quarantine and re-opening considerations.
• Muku Qes Ua, Psychotherapist, Herbalist and Homeopath who discussed natural and holistic approaches to managing fibroids
• Olivia Haltman, Integrative Humanistic Counsellor, OH Counselling Services who discussed emotions, fibroids and the lockdown and highlighted the emotional impact of fibroids, how this intersects with the emotional impact of COVID-19 and strategies for coping and improving mental health.

If you missed the webinar, you can watch the recording below and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to send the Global Fibroids Alliance an email.

To keep informed of the work of GFA and to be alerted of future events, you can sign up to their newsletter here.

Over the past month, as we have been conducting our regular monitoring of the traffic to our website, we have noticed a lot of visitors are coming to our website to find out whether soursop or guava are beneficial for fibroids. So, today, we will visit published research to see if we can answer this question.

 How We’re Going to Approach This Question

The first thing to say about this topic is there isn’t a lot of evidence-based information out there. What we found were discussions by scientists about the possibilities, there wasn’t any concrete data that could definitively answer this question.

To explore whether guava and soursop may be beneficial in treating fibroids, we will focus on one scientific paper, which was the only one we could find that was related to this topic.

This paper was published by the Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine at the Polytechnic University of Marche in Italy, in 2014.

Their paper, the ‘Use of dietary phytochemicals to target inflammation, fibrosis, proliferation, and angiogenesis in uterine tissues: Promising options for prevention and treatment of uterine fibroids?,’  is a review of a  selection of substances (phytochemicals) found naturally in certain fruits and vegetables which, because of their properties, could be useful in treating and preventing fibroids.

This paper is important in our exploration because some of the phytochemicals included in the researchers’ review are found in soursop and guava.

Some Background: What are Phytochemicals?

Before we summarise the relevant information provided in this paper, we thought it would be useful to define the term phytochemical. Harvard University describes phytochemicals as:

”…plant (phyto) chemicals: compounds in plants (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes) that contribute to their color, taste, and smell.”

Some commonly known phytochemicals are carotenoids, found in carrots, pumpkin, corn and tomatoes; flavonoids, found in citrus fruits, berries, apples and legumes and anthocyanins, which are found in berries, eggplant and red cabbage.

It is widely known that phytochemicals have a range of health benefits. These benefits include reducing our risk of heart disease, cancer and other chronic diseases and this is achieved because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects as well as a range of other effects.

What Does This Research Paper Tell Us?

The researchers who wrote this paper began their exploration by describing four possible factors that contribute to the development of fibroids. These are:

• A chronically active inflammatory immune response
• Fibrosis (a process that leads to the formation of scar tissue) which is a result of inflammation
• Increased rate of cell growth in fibroid cells
• The development of new blood vessels which feed fibroid cells

Researchers explained that if phytochemicals are able to address these four factors, they may be useful in preventing and treating fibroids.

Like many fruits, guava and soursop are rich in phytochemicals.  Guava is known to contain the phytochemicals lycopene, quercetin, anthocyanin, and many others.  Whilst soursop contains reticuline, coreximine, quercetin, gallic acid and others.

In their paper, researchers discuss a range of phytochemicals including ones that are relevant to guava and soursop – lycopene and quercetin. They explain that at the time of the publication of their paper, lycopene and quercetin have not been tested in fibroids, but based on what scientists know about these two chemicals they may be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of fibroids.  This is because when we look back at the four possible ways that fibroids develop, these two phytochemicals can potentially target these processes. They have both been found to have the following effects:

• An anti-inflammatory effect
• Anti-fibrotic effect
• Prevent the growth of different types of tumour cells (fibroids are benign tumours)
• Prevent the development of blood vessels that feed tumour cells

Researchers couldn’t make any conclusions on these phytochemicals with regards to fibroids, but their discussion has identified these and other phytochemicals which could be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of fibroids. These include:

• Allicin (found in garlic)
• Ellagic acid (found in strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, blackberries, pecans, pomegranates, walnuts, wolfberry and grapes)
• Indole-3-carbinol (found in cruciferous vegetables e.g. broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, bok choy, collard greens, kale etc.
• Lycopene (found in tomato, watermelon, papaya, pink guava, pink grapefruit and apricots)
• Quercetin (found in lemon, tomato, onion leaves, strawberries, soursop and tea)

They stated that based on the information they presented, there is a need to understand whether these phytochemicals are indeed beneficial for fibroids and this should be explored through future studies that carefully and accurately determine their mechanism of action and effectiveness in the treatment and prevention of fibroids.

What Does this Mean for Women With Fibroids?

This research study has raised the idea that the phytochemicals in soursop and guava may be beneficial in the treatment and prevention of fibroids. It doesn’t mean that eating soursop and guava will cure your fibroids, the reason for this, and this is discussed in the research paper, is that when you eat these fruits we don’t know if your body is absorbing enough of these phytochemicals to have a significant impact on the growth and development of fibroids.

What we can say is that if you have fibroids, if you haven’t already, we recommend that you adopt a healthy diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables, this can include soursop and guava, but should include cruciferous vegetables.  Studies have shown that making dietary changes can be helpful in improving some of the symptoms of fibroids as can introducing more exercise into your routine.

It is also recommended that women with fibroids avoid certain foods such as alcohol, caffeine, red meat and foods that may contain high levels of hormones like oestrogen.

If you have fibroids and would like to explore dietary changes and exercise as a way of managing your symptoms, please speak to your doctor first. She/he will be able to advise you on the best approach based on your specific situation as the success of these approaches will depend on the size of your fibroids and other factors.  You may also want to speak to a registered dietitian who along with your doctor will be able to provide some advice on the dietary changes that you can make.

Was this Helpful?

Were you one of the people looking for information on fibroids and guava and/or soursop? Was this article helpful? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below. We would love to hear from you.

References

1. Agu KC, Okolie PN. Proximate composition, phytochemical analysis, and in vitro antioxidant potentials of extracts of Annona muricata(Soursop). Food Sci Nutr. 2017;5(5):1029-1036. Published 2017 Jun 29. doi:10.1002/fsn3.498
2. Chiari-Andréo, Bruna & Trovatti, Eliane & Marto, Joana & Almeida-Cincotto, Maria & Melero, Ana & Corrêa, Marcos & Chiavacci, Leila & Ribeiro, Helena & Garrigues, Teresa & Isaac, Vera. (2017). Guava: Phytochemical composition of a potential source of antioxidants for cosmetic and/or dermatological applications. Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 53. 10.1590/s2175-97902017000216141.
3. Deepa PC., Kumaria IR., and Lavanya B. (2015) Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant and Anti Microbial Activity of White and Pink Psidium Guajava Linnaeus. International Journal of Current Pharmaceutical Research, 7(2), pp 29-31.
4. Harvard Health Publishing., (2019). Fill up on phytochemicals [Online]. Harvard Medical School. [Viewed on 4^th July 2020]. Available from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/fill-up-on-phytochemicals
5. Islam MS, Akhtar MM, Ciavattini A, et al. Use of dietary phytochemicals to target inflammation, fibrosis, proliferation, and angiogenesis in uterine tissues: promising options for prevention and treatment of uterine fibroids? Mol Nutr Food Res. 2014;58(8):1667-1684. doi:10.1002/mnfr.201400134
6. Jacoby VL, Jacoby A, Learman LA, et al. Use of medical, surgical and complementary treatments among women with fibroids. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2014;182:220-225. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2014.09.004
7. Leitzmann C. Characteristics and Health Benefits of Phytochemicals. Forsch Komplementmed. 2016;23(2):69-74. doi:10.1159/000444063
8. Shen Y, Wu Y, Lu Q, Ren M. Vegetarian diet and reduced uterine fibroids risk: A case-control study in Nanjing, China. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2016;42(1):87-94. doi:10.1111/jog.12834

Following on from the publication of our ‘Fibroids and COVID-19’ infographic, we’re delighted to notify you of the publication of our latest fibroids infographic.  

This infographic, entitled ‘What You Need to Know About Fibroids’ covers what fibroids are, the different types of fibroids, risk factors, symptoms and tips for women living with fibroids.

The aim of this resource is to provide women with a simple overview of fibroids and to address the concern that women expressed to us about the lack of accurate reliable information on this important women’s health issue.

We had the pleasure of working with newly qualified doctor, Sofia Miah, to create this resource. Sofia carried out some desk-based research in order to prepare the content and designed the infographic.

Sofia’s experience of working on this short project highlighted some very important lessons for those working in the healthcare field, with Sofia stating that:

“As a newly qualified doctor with clinical experience in women’s health, I was shocked by the higher incidence of fibroids among African-Caribbean women and how little it is spoken about in medical education and the workplace. Black women are disproportionately affected by fibroids and more likely to have hysterectomies. This is worsened by the lack of high-quality, comprehensive and accessible information out there on fibroids for patients. As healthcare professionals, we need to be more open and vocal about the impact of fibroids on patients and their quality of life. We need to be better.”

We are very grateful to Sofia for working with us on this project and to the experienced gynaecologist who reviewed the infographic. You can download the infographic below and if you have any questions or comments about this resource, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by sending us an email

Today’s blog post comes from Mariana Ndrio. Mariana is a second-year medical student at the University of Medicine & Health Sciences (UMHS) in St. Kitts and is currently serving as the President of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) on campus.

Mariana has recently started volunteering with us as a research assistant and is supporting us as we conduct our fibroids qualitative study. She is also creating a fibroids and COVID-19 infographic which will be published shortly.  

Today, Mariana discusses the challenges that fibroids patients may be experiencing during this COVID-19 pandemic and shares some evidence-based self-care and stress management tips to help women with fibroids manage during this difficult period.

---

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to prompt stressful changes to our daily routine and lifestyle, health-related worries regarding ourselves and loved ones have undoubtedly intensified. While the growing uncertainties stemming from financial difficulties and social isolation impact the health and personal decision-making of everyone across the globe, women suffering from uterine fibroids are facing unprecedented challenges in their attempts to preserve their mental and physical wellbeing.

Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumours among women. While some cases of fibroids are accompanied by no side effects, other cases contain patterns of heavy menstrual bleeding, long and irregular periods, pelvic pressure and pain, constipation, frequent urination, and in rare occasions, infertility.

Treatment for fibroids can range from no treatment at all to surgery, depending on the severity of symptoms. Aside from apparent physical symptoms, the psychological impact of fibroids should not be disregarded. In a 2013 national survey of 968 women suffering from fibroids, 79% of the surveyed women expressed fear that their fibroids will grow or experience further health complications. According to a 2014 study assessing the emotional impact of fibroids half of the participating women reported feeling helpless and that they had no control over their fibroids, because of the difficulty managing and predicting the heavy menstrual flow.

Black women are 3 times more likely to become diagnosed with fibroids than white women, just as they are more likely to develop fibroids at a younger age; moreover, their fibroid size, frequency, and symptom severity are much greater.

As a medical student that remains generally impressed by the increasing amount of existing medical and scientific knowledge, researching gynaecological diseases such as fibroids have led me to a stark realization: that despite the high prevalence of uterine fibroids among women, not enough high-quality data is available to formulate evidence-based guidelines that address patients’ needs adequately. This points to a larger, unforgiving gap in medical knowledge pertaining to common diseases affecting women, and when combined with the gap in medical knowledge regarding COVID-19, a mixture of increased emotional stress and confusion is to follow. Such stress can hinder overall physical health and may exacerbate fibroid symptoms by influencing cycle length, vaginal bleeding patterns, and painful periods. If you are feeling uncertain or anxious, know that you are not alone; your worries and feelings are valid.

For that matter, we compiled some scientifically-backed tips that could be helpful in restoring a sense of control and ease in these difficult and unprecedented times.

First, don’t hesitate to reach out.

While staying home and self-isolating is the best way to stay protected from COVID-19 and prevent the spread of the virus, this should not halt or compromise access to necessary medical care for women suffering from fibroids.

If you need to see a healthcare provider for a gynaecological reason, reach out to your medical provider and try to see if they are able to set up a virtual appointment or address non-urgent concerns over the phone (such as prescription refills). 

While it is true that a lot of non-urgent appointments and elective surgeries are cancelled, many medical professionals and medical facilities are encouraged to use and have already embraced telehealth services which allow long-distance patient and clinician care via remote and virtual appointments, intervention, education, and monitoring. Telehealth services vary based on your location and medical provider. But even if you are having difficulties accessing gynaecological telehealth services locally, you might be able to reach out to service providers in other countries such as the U.K, U.S, or Canada. For example, USA Fibroid Centers provide virtual appointments you can schedule online. Women to Women OB GYN Care, located in Florida, states in their website that they welcome appointments from women internationally and the Caribbean. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has also attempted to establish or expand telehealth services in a lot of Caribbean countries.

Keep up to date with your prescribed medications.

Keeping up to date with your prescribed medications can be confusing during a pandemic. You might feel like your regular access to your medical provider or pharmacy is compromised, you might worry that your current medications might be making you vulnerable to the COVID-19 or you might be feeling uncertain regarding the continuation of your current prescribed medications or supplements.

Nonetheless, it is important that you continue taking your prescribed medications and/or supplements unless otherwise advised by your physician.  If you are receiving preoperative therapy (Zoladex, Lupron, etc.) but your surgery is cancelled, ask your physician regarding the course of your current prescribed therapy. If you have been prescribed a drug called Esmya (Ulipristal Acetate), you must consult with your physician regarding its discontinuation; as of 2020, Esmya’s license has been suspended due to the risk of serious liver injury. As mentioned previously, do not hesitate to discuss any concerns you might have regarding your current medications and supplements with your medical provider.

Plan ahead.

Studies show that women with fibroids might present heavier, prolonged bleeding and frequent, irregular periods. While everyone during a pandemic is worrying and trying to secure produce and disinfecting supplies, women suffering from fibroids have to also think about stocking up on female hygiene products. Especially, since frequent trips to the stores must be limited due to social distancing/quarantine rules.

Ensure that you have enough gynaecological hygiene products at home, to eliminate frequent trips to the store and avoid exposure to the virus. This by no means should be considered as the green light to go into a buying frenzy. Try to remain conscientious of the needs of others.

If buying hygiene products in bulk is not an option due to financial difficulty or store availability, reach out to local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or philanthropic entities, that might be willing to donate hygiene products such as the Days for Girls International Organization or even by reaching out directly to product manufacturers. Local grassroots organizations or associations in your region might also be able to donate hygiene items. Moreover, the governmental departments of public health or genders affairs might be willing to assist women in need of hygiene products.

This pandemic could also be a good time to consider reusable, more economical and environmentally friendly menstruation products such as washable pads, menstruation caps, or absorbent underwear.  Check Days for Girls .org and learn how to make sanitary washable period pads during the COVD-19 pandemic, diligently following sanitary safety precautions.

Maintain healthy eating habits. 

Research has shown that following a healthy balanced diet, filled with fruits and vegetables, could lower the risk of developing fibroids and may help to alleviate symptoms.

While access to your usual healthy foods might be compromised at the moment, try to make healthy dietary choices while in quarantine. More specifically, dieticians recommend an increase in the consumption of cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, and kale. This category of food contains a phytochemical called indole-3-carbinol which recent research has suggested may prevent the cellular proliferation of fibroids and consequently prevent exacerbation of fibroid symptoms.

For many years, there has been a significant amount of scientific evidence that vitamin D may inhibit fibroid growth. Get your serum vitamin D levels tested and supplement (with medical supervision) as needed to correct a deficiency. A few recently published studies assessing the role of vitamin D against COVID-19, suggested that there is a possible link between the two and that vitamin D can have a protective effect against COVID-19.

Stay hydrated by consuming adequate amounts of water during the day and eliminate alcohol and caffeine. Researchers are advising women to avoid alcohol and caffeine because these substances are metabolized by the liver adding more stress on it and making it work less effectively at metabolizing oestrogen in the body.  Additionally, amidst the COVD-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged the public to reduce alcohol consumption because alcohol compromises the body’s immune system and increases the risk of adverse health outcomes, making people more vulnerable to COVID-19. In other words, by cutting out alcoholic beverages, you are protecting yourself from adverse outcomes from both the COVID-19 and fibroids.

In addition, researchers believe that endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) which mimic oestrogen activity, may fuel fibroid growth. Examples include processed foods which contain various oestrogen-like preservatives; bisphenol A in water bottles, canned foods and plastic containers; various pesticides, herbicides, insecticides; and additive hormones and steroids used in meats and dairy products.

Try to choose organic, locally grown and in-season foods that are hormone and pesticide-free. Attentively wash any produce and peel fruits and vegetables. Reduce the use of plastics whenever possible and avoid reusing plastic water bottles or microwave food in plastic containers.

Stay active.

Research shows that a higher BMI – body mass index – is linked to the development of fibroids. By exercising you can reduce your BMI and prevent the fibroids’ growth. It may also help alleviate symptoms caused by fibroids. At the same time, exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood and by improving self-esteem.

Continue performing simple or recreational household chores and find an indoor workout routine such as yoga or aerobic exercises that you can perform at home while keeping up with the rules of quarantine. Choose what works best for you, based on your physical fitness and medical advice.

Be gentle to yourself—your body & your mind

On days that you are feeling pain and other fibroid symptoms, rest up and give your body time to heal. Try to soothe cramps by applying heat and wear comfortable clothes.

It’s okay to spend a whole day in bed recovering. Be gentle with yourself and do not undermine what your body is trying to tell you.

We live in a society where time and productivity are precious and synonyms for money and self-worth. Yet, nothing is more precious than your physical and emotional well-being. Do not feel guilty for taking some time to rest and recover.

Although self-care looks different for everyone and should be based on your personal needs and situation, there are a few suggestions that could work for you and help you boost your mental well-being:

• Try to meditate and practice mindfulness. You can find a lot of free guided meditations online or on YouTube.
• Monitor your thoughts and feelings in a journal.
• Practice good sleep hygiene. Maintain a sufficient sleep schedule, stay away from electronic devices while in bed, and start a regular bedtime routine—such as drinking a soothing tea, taking a warm bath or shower, reading, etc.
• Limit the amount of media you ingest daily.
• If you live alone reach out to family and friends via phone or video. If you live with family, roommates, or a partner use this time to connect and nurture your relationships.

And remember, during these confusing and unprecedented times and while you are feeling that this pandemic is affecting you, in particular, a bit harder than the rest, there is always a community of women who are feeling exactly like you—you are not alone.

---

Sources

1. Mayo Clinic website: “Uterine Fibroids.” – http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/uterine-fibroids/DS00078.
2. Seminars in reproductive medicine: “Uterine Fibroids: Burden and Unmet Medical Need.” – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6193285/
3. CARE About Fibroids: “Uterine Fibroids: The Emotional, Physical, and Economic Toll.” – http://www.careaboutfibroids.org/toll-of-fibroids.html
4. The BMJ, British Medical Journal Publishing Group:  “Uterine Fibroid Drug Is Recalled after Case of Liver Failure Requiring Transplant Prompts EU Review.” www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m1112.
5. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition: “Dietary glycemic index and load in relation to risk of uterine leiomyomata in the Black Women’s Health Study.” – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2854903/
6. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology: “Vegetarian diet and reduced uterine fibroids risk: A case-control study in Nanjing, China.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26458740
7. Reproductive Biomedicine Online Journal: “Quercetin and indole-3-carbinol inhibit extracellular matrix expression in human primary uterine leiomyoma cells” – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1472648320300249
8. Fertility and Sterility Journal:  “Endocrine-disrupting chemicals and uterine fibroids.”- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5051569/
9. Healthline Magazine: “How Alcohol Can Affect your Immune System.”- https://www.healthline.com/health-news/can-alcohol-hurt-your-immune-system-during-covid-19-outbreak
10. The Elusive Magical Solution: The Relationship between Vitamin D and Fibroids- https://scholars.direct/Articles/gynecology-and-obstetrics/ago-3-008.php?jid=gynecology-and-obstetrics
11. The role of Vitamin D in the prevention of Coronavirus Disease 2019 infection and mortality- (https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-21211/v1)
12. American Journal of Epidemiology: “Association of Physical Activity with Development of Uterine Leiomyoma.”                – https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/165/2/157/97971
13. Mayo Clinic: “ COVID-19 and Your Mental Health”- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/mental-health-covid-19/art-20482731
14. Lake Health and Wellbeing: “Fibroids and your Mental Health.”- https://lakehealthandwellbeing.com/newsite/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/FibroidsANDEmotionalWellbeingVersion2.pdf

We’re delighted to inform you that OH Services will be hosting another four-week course on the emotional impact of fibroids which starts on Wednesday 4th March 2020.

This course is aimed at women who have been affected by fibroids, professionals who would like to support and understand their clients better and family members and friends who would like to learn more about fibroids so they can help their loved ones.

The course will be led by Olivia Haltman who is an accredited Integrative Humanistic Counsellor and an Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapist.  She is also a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), EMDR UK & Ireland and BAATN (Black and Asian Therapist Network). Ms Haltman has over 10 years experience working in the mental health sector having worked for organisations like Mind and established her organisation to support people who want to develop their lives on a personal level and reach their best potential.

The Aim of the Course

This course will empower attendees, enabling them to

• Get an understanding of how fibroids affect your emotions and life
• Create a stepping stone to start a routine to work on their self-care
• Create their own self-care plan
• Learn how to support and understand others with fibroids
• Start a self-development journey to improve their general wellbeing

It will be interactive and include: a lecture, break out exercises, Q & A, guest speakers, homework, hand-outs and a Certificate of Attendance upon attending the full 4 weeks.

We’ve Teamed Up With OH Services

We’re delighted to have formed a partnership with OH Services. Those who register for the OH Services course will be able to claim a 20% discount on any of our services and products

More Information

For more information, you can visit OH Services’ Eventbrite page, visit their website or email us

On Tuesday 19th November, KMT Rising will be organising a public lecture on fibroids in Dominica. This lecture will focus on holistic approaches to tackling fibroids.

Attendees will be taken on a personal journey to womb-wellness, exploring some of the factors which contribute to the production and accelerated growth of fibroids amongst women, and the range of holistic strategies which can be adopted for more informed choices around health and womb-wellness.

Imani Sorhaindo, a qualified Holistic health practitioner, teacher and lecturer invites the audience to look at this growing global epidemic, and the need to raise more awareness amongst women, their families and health practitioners towards the elimination of this types of disease.

The event takes place at the UWI Open Campus in Roseau, Dominica from 7 pm to 8:45 pm. You can register for this event by visiting KMT Rising’s website.

About KMT Rising 

KMT Rising is a UK-based organisation that is dedicated to the optimum health and wellness of all women around the globe; ensuring that their personal, emotional and health-related needs are catered for through a range of bespoke holistic packages. They also provide very unique Fibroid products on sale internationally:

• Fibroid Assessment Check List
• So you have Fibroids – Next steps guide
• Get yourself checked for Fibroids guide

Website: https://www.kmtrising.com/

Email address: kmtrisingltd@gmail.com

We’re delighted to announce that we have once again teamed up with Because We Care to host another women’s health event in St Kitts.

Girl Talk: Diabetes will focus on women and diabetes and will take place on Saturday 14th September. We’ll be having a panel of excellent speakers covering topics such as:

• An Introduction to Diabetes
• Diabetes and its Complication
• Living with Diabetes

We’ll also have a small wellness market featuring health, wellbeing and wellness brands, fantastic raffle prizes, free health checks, food and more!

More details to follow, so please stay tuned!

This event is the second event in this series. Our first event focused on fibroids and we had a great day learning more about fibroids and its impact on women. You can read about our previous event here

If you would like to join us for this event, you can register below and make the payment on the day ($90EC).

The information provided in the form below will enable us to contact you about the event regarding updates and important information. We will only use it for this purpose.

No Fields Found.

We look forward to seeing you on 14th September and if you have any questions, please email us or call 765 8702.

March was International Women’s Month, Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, the perfect opportunity to put the spotlight on the pressing issues that women face every day.

International Women’s Day was on the 8^th March and this year’s theme set the tone for the month.

This year’s theme was #BalanceForBetter and aimed to stress the importance of creating a gender-balanced world.

This campaign didn’t just begin and end in March but continues all year long. The team behind the  #BalanceForBetter theme is hoping that over the year society can work towards gender-balance in all sectors so that we can see more gender-balanced boardrooms, governments, media coverage, wealth, businesses and more.

Since March, organisations throughout the world have launched their own #BalanceForBetter campaigns to either explore what needs to be done to create a more gender-balanced world or to showcase women in various fields who are creating gender-balance through their work. One such organisation was Noire Wellness and we were delighted to have been featured in their campaign (thank you!).

Noire Wellness’ campaign focused on balance in the wellness sector. Their campaign featured women in this sector, showcased their work and explored what balance means to them.

We took the opportunity that this campaign presented to call for gender-balance in public health approaches.

Having spent the last few years slowly developing a fibroids health and wellbeing programme, we have seen first-hand the effect of not creating gender-balance in public health.

By not taking gender into account many health conditions, particularly gynaecological conditions,  are overlooked with their impact not being fully appreciated. This means that women with conditions like fibroids lack the information and support that they require to make informed decisions about their treatment, to improve their own health and wellbeing and navigate the many challenges that living with fibroids presents. Furthermore, there is a lack of research and a lack of understanding of the causes of fibroids.

We aren’t the only ones calling for a gender-balanced approach.

We recently attended a webinar on women and non-communicable diseases (NCDs)  and it was stressed that there needs to be a more gender-balanced approach to public health to avoid placing women at a disadvantage.  One of the speakers explained that when it comes to medical research the male body is well-known, most research is conducted on white men and data is simply (and with a false expectation) extrapolated to women.  This means there is no appreciation of the biological differences that exist between males and females and how this impacts health. The speaker stated that, for example, we now know that:

• Women’s lungs are smaller than men’s which has an impact on women’s risks of developing lung diseases and the type of lung diseases that women develop
• Women’s hearts are smaller
• Women are more likely to develop a different form of bowel cancer
• Women process alcohol differently

These gender differences, and others, have gone unnoticed by the medical profession and this has led to misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. This would not have been the case if there was a gender-balanced approach in the health sector.

More work is needed to address the gender imbalance that has been created in public health and medical research. By creating gender-balance in these areas we can begin to address the gender inequalities that exist and ensure that we can improve the health of all women.

On 30th March, we were delighted to join forces with Because We Care to host our first Girl Talk event.

Girl Talk is our new event series that aims to provide a forum for informative, informal and empowering discussions about women’s health. We hope that these events will enable women to take control of their health and that of their families, and therefore build a stronger, healthier nation.

Our first event focused on fibroids. This is an area that is often overlooked leading to a lack of awareness, information, and support for those who have been affected. We want to correct that. We also want to overcome the stigma that can be associated with fibroids by creating a safe space to discuss fibroids, its impact on women and solutions.

We were delighted to have a panel of esteemed speakers covering various aspects of fibroids. Speakers included:

• Dr Hazel Laws, Chief Medical Officer, St Kitts – Fibroids and Women’s Health in St Kitts
• Dr Deborah Williams, Professor of Pathology – What Are Fibroids?
• Tammy Cook – My Fibroids Story
• Dr Lescott, Medical Doctor – Fibroids and Nutrition
• Dr Pereira, Clinical Psychologist – Living well with fibroids and chronic illness
• Dr Lawrence, Medical Doctor – The treatment of fibroids

We also had a small wellness market, fantastic raffle prizes and free health checks for all attendees.

 A Summary of the Day

 Fibroids and Women’s Health in St Kitts and Nevis

The event started with a presentation by Dr Hazel Laws who provided an overview of women’s health in St Kitts and Nevis.

Dr Laws explained that data suggests that women in the Federation are more likely to be affected by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cancer and diabetes, but the data may not be giving the full picture as it may be that women are more likely to visit their doctor and seek help than men, and this is what the data is reflecting.

Dr Laws also summarised some of the work that the Ministry of Health is doing to improve women’s health through projects like:

• The ASSIST (Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems) Project which is exploring improving the quality of care offered to pregnant women and children
• WHIP (The Women’s Health Improvement Plan)

Then Dr Laws focused specifically on fibroids and explained that 78 women in St Kitts and Nevis had a surgical intervention for fibroids in 2018. Furthermore, anecdotal evidence collected from OBGYN specialists suggest that over 60% of 35-50-year-old women in St Kitts and Nevis have uterine fibroids with 30% of these women being symptomatic.

Based on this data, Dr Laws stated that fibroids should be raised as a public health concern especially as the lived experience of women with fibroids can be very challenging and very often women suffer in silence. She ended by saying that there is a need to educate women and improve access to care.

What Are Fibroids and their Impact on Women

Next on the agenda was Dr Williams who provided an overview of what fibroids are and touched on their impact on women.

Dr Williams raised some concern that there is little research being conducted on fibroids so the information available on the causes is very limited which then makes it hard for women to take steps to prevent or reduce their risk of developing fibroids.

In summarising the impact of fibroids on women, Dr Williams used data from the US which showed the following with respect to quality of life:

• 28-40% of women with fibroids report missing work because of their symptoms
• 25% reported that having fibroids prevented them from meeting their career potential
• Black women with fibroids are 77% more likely to miss work than their white counterparts
• 36% reduction in work productivity

Dr Williams explained that fibroids also affect self-image with research showing the following:

• 68-88% of women feeling self-conscious or embarrassed about their stomach size and appearance
• 22-51% stated that having fibroids had a negative influence on their femininity and sexuality
• 44% reported painful intercourse
• 60% reported a lack of interest in sex
• 53% said it negatively impacted their relationship with their husband
• 14-46% stated it affected their ability to take care of their home and children

Dr Williams ended her presentation by summarising the significant impact that fibroids have on women and society:

• Fibroids present a significant burden for those affected
• It has an enormous economic impact
• Fibroids negatively affects work productivity, sexuality, self-image, relationships, social and emotional wellbeing
• Black women and younger women are more affected by fibroids
• Many women delay seeking treatment often for several years

Diet and Fibroids

We also heard from Dr Lescott who gave a presentation on diet and fibroids. Similar to Dr Williams, Dr Lescott also explained that there is limited research exploring this topic, but the limited amount  of data on diet and fibroids suggests the following:

• Fibroids are more common in women who consume more red meat and alcohol
• For women who drink at least one beer a day, there was a 50% increase in their risk of developing fibroids
• Compounds from green tea may inhibit the growth of fibroids cells
• Women who consume more citrus fruits are less likely to develop fibroids, possibly due to the presence of flavonoids in citrus fruits
• Vitamin D was protective when it comes to fibroids
• Vitamin A from animal sources are linked to the development of fibroids (not vitamin A from fruits and vegetables)

Living with Fibroids and Chronic Illness

Dr Pereira then covered a very important but often neglected topic – how to live with an ongoing illness like fibroids.

Many women with fibroids are forced to live with several uncomfortable symptoms, in some cases for many years. Dr Pereira explained that this can challenge many aspects of a woman’s life.

Some of the challenges that women may encounter include difficulties related to pain, fatigue, missed work, reproductive health issues, uncertainty, stress, anxiety, relationship and family difficulties, loss of self-confidence, financial issues and more. All these issues can be very hard to cope with.

Because complete eradication of the symptoms and effects of fibroids is not always possible, it is important that women learn strategies to cope. This can be achieved through cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) which focuses on looking at how we think about certain situations in order to develop resilience so we can better deal with the challenges that are associated with living with fibroids.

Dr Pereira also demonstrated one simple CBT technique, relaxation breathing, which is used to reduce the symptoms of anxiety.

Treatment of Fibroids

We also heard from Dr Lawrence who gave an excellent presentation on the treatment of fibroids. Dr Lawrence explained that treatments included surgery e.g. (hysterectomy, myomectomy), medication to treat the symptoms or shrink the fibroids, non-surgical options (e.g. embolization) and MRI-guided procedures. Dr Lawrence explained that some of these procedures are not available in St Kitts and Nevis.

Dr Lawrence gave attendees the opportunity to ask any questions they had about fibroids, treatment and symptoms. This raised a number of interesting issues such as the challenges associated with having both sickle cell anaemia and anaemia related to fibroids, the struggle that many women have with making treatment decisions and fertility concerns.

My Fibroids Story

In addition to the doctors who presented, we were grateful to Tammy Cook who delivered a powerful and moving talk about her personal experience with fibroids. Ms Cook bravely shared the many challenges she experienced and based on this experienced encouraged women to:

• Get to know their bodies
• Visit the doctor promptly if something doesn’t feel right
• Get a second opinion if you’re not happy with your care.

Conclusion

The event ended with a short presentation from Abi Begho who summarised the day and explained what resources, information and support are available to women which included a self-management course which we’re hoping to organise in May specifically for women with fibroids.

Thank you!

We had a great day and would like to thank everyone who attended, asked questions, and shared their story.

We’d like to thank all the speakers for their thought-provoking, informative presentations and all the vendors – Mother Becky Bush Tea, Sugar Town Organics, Love the Skin You Wear, Pure Niceness By Winnielle and Rose Catering.

We’d also like to say a big thank you to the Chop Shop, the Emerald Mist Spa, Mother Becky Bush Tea, Love the Skin You Wear and Sugar Town Organics for donating lovely raffle prizes.

And, finally we’d like to thank the staff and students UMHS for all their support as we organised this event, we are very grateful.

More Information

For more information on fibroids, you can:

• Visit our fibroids blog and fibroids news sections
• Read through our My Fibroid Story section
• Read through the highlights of our fibroids Twitter chats
• Send a question to our Fibroids Ask the Expert panel
• Listen to our fibroids podcast interviews
  • My Ten Year Journey With Fibroids 
  • Fibroids, Hormones, Diet and Lifestyle
  • The Emotional Impact of Fibroids

You can also keep up-to-date with our fibroids events and news by subscribing to our fibroids newsletter below.

Being a new organisation in St Kitts and Nevis and keen to make a positive contribution to improving the health and wellbeing of our community, over the past year we have been exploring the public health landscape in our Federation and started developing a strategy around the pressing issue of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) with a focus on childhood obesity and women’s health.

In today’s blog, we’ll be discussing our decision to tackle women’s health and in a future blog, we’ll explore childhood obesity.

Our decision to focus on women’s health was an evidence-based decision. Data from the Ministry of Health has demonstrated that women living in the Federation face a number of health challenges.  In St Kitts and Nevis, women are disproportionately affected by some NCDs. For example, 71% of diabetics in St Kitts and Nevis are women and 65% of cancer patients are women.

Non-communicable diseases are a significant issue for St Kitts and Nevis with 83% of deaths being due to these conditions. Driving the rise of non-communicable diseases is the high rate of overweight and obesity. In women, the rates are extremely high. Data has shown that 74% of females in St Kitts and Nevis are either overweight or obese.

We need to tackle these issues in order to improve the health and quality of life of women and prevent them from dying prematurely from diseases that are mostly preventable. Therefore, we are working towards developing a women’s health programme that will initially focus on awareness and education.

Our Plan

Over the next year, our plan is to host a series of women’s health events entitled ‘Girl Talk: Informative, Informal and Empowering Discussions About Women’s Health.’

These events will aim to inform and empower women enabling them to take control of their health and therefore not only improve their own health and wellbeing, but the health and wellbeing of their families, and by extension build a stronger, healthier nation.

The series began on 30^th March 2019 with Girl Talk: Fibroids and following this there will be regular events covering a range of women’s health issues.

Healthcare professionals, particularly female healthcare professionals, will be invited to give engaging presentations on health topics, and women affected by conditions will be invited to share their experience and what they have learnt from it.

Additionally, we will invite health and wellbeing brands (particularly those owned by women) to showcase their services at each event so that women can have easy access to relevant services. We will also invite female medical students to take part in this event giving them relevant real-world experience of women’s health. We are pleased to have formed a partnership with Because We Care at the University of Medicine and Health Sciences to achieve this.

As well as covering the most common NCDs, we need to focus on providing support and information for women in St Kitts who are affected by women’s health issues that tend to be overlooked such as fibroids, endometriosis and PCOS.

Additionally, childhood obesity is another significant challenge with 1 in 3 children in the Caribbean being overweight or obese. In St Kitts, the statistics are more alarming with 46.9% of secondary school children being overweight or obese. Studies have shown that children who are overweight and obese tend to become adults who are overweight or obese, and this puts them at risk of developing NCDs like diabetes, cancer, heart disease and more.  We believe that women can play an instrumental role in tackling childhood obesity by creating a healthy environment for their children, our lecture series will educate mothers on easy, practical ways to do this.

The key objectives of our women’s health event series will be:

1. To raise awareness of and create an understanding of women’s health issues to facilitate early detection and prevention
2. To provide a safe, informal platform where women can come together, receive expert advice and have an honest open discussion about important health issues and therefore reduce isolation, stigma and create a support network for women.
3. To empower women with the information to create a healthy lifestyle for themselves and their families to improve their general health and wellbeing

As mentioned previously our first Girl Talk event was on 30^th March 2019 and we were so pleased with how it went. Look out for a future blog post summarising this event.

We are really excited about our strategy for the next couple of years and hope you’ll follow us on our journey.

---

References

1. UNICEF, Situation Analysis of Children in the Federation of St Kitts and Nevis, UNICEF Office for the Eastern Caribbean Area and the Government of St Kitts and Nevis, Christ Church, Barbados, 2017
2. PAHO, Health in the Americas, 2012: St Kitts and Nevis, PAHO, 2012
3.  WHO, Diabetes Country Profile: St Kitts and Nevis, WHO, 2016