We are absolutely delighted to welcome Dr Nigel Hacking to our fibroids Ask the Expert Panel. Dr Hacking is a Consultant Interventional Radiologist at Southampton University Hospital in the UK and specialises in Uterine Fibroid Embolisation (UFE). He was one of the pioneers of UFE and has one of the largest experiences in the world. He set up and runs both UK Fibroid Experts and Fibroid Caribbean and performs UFE in the UK at Southampton and London as well as in Trinidad and Nairobi.  He also helps train Interventional Radiologists from the UK and overseas to set up their own services. He has published in peer reviewed journals and has recently edited a textbook entitled ‘Radiological Interventions in Obstetrics and Gynaecology’.  For over 10 years he has spoken at most of the most prestigious Interventional Radiology conferences around the world each year on Fibroid Embolisation and other topics.

We are delighted to have him on board and if you have any questions about fibroids please do submit them to our panel here

In October, we launched our Fibroids Ask the Expert, a resource that aims to provide anyone with a question or concern about fibroids with accurate reliable information from an expert in the field. Since its launch we have received a number of really interesting questions which our experts have been delighted to answer. We thought it would be useful to share some of the questions and the answers with you.  So, this week’s blog is a fibroids Q&A.

Question: “How much are fibroids are likely to shrink after menopause?”

Answer:  “Fibroids may shrink after menopause, but not always.  There have been reports of fibroids shrinking by 50% after menopause and that symptoms improve or disappear completely after menopause.  This isn’t an instant process though and our understanding is that if shrinkage occurs it is usually gradual.”

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Question: “My sister was diagnosed with fibroids one being 11cm, is that large?”

Answer: “A fibroid of 11cm is on the large side. Fibroids can vary in size from as small as a coin (about 2cm) to as large as a watermelon (about 19cm).”

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Question: “Would Doctors consider the use of proteolytic enzymes as a part of the fibroid shrinking protocol?”

Answer:  “Proteolytic enzymes have the potential to “shrink” fibroids, however to answer your question, a doctor’s protocol is relative to his/her academic training.  If the physician has been trained in biomedical sciences, he/she are less likely to promote this approach, unless perhaps to assist in decreasing the fibroid size prior to surgical intervention.  Nonetheless, there has been no major studies conducted that support a significant impact between proteolytic enzymes and fibroid shrinkage.  This is just another reason medical doctors may be less likely to support this protocol.  Naturopathic or homeopathic doctors would be more inclined to consider proteolytic enzymes in addition to other forms of treatment to address fibroids, however this decision needs to be made in consultation with your selected physician.”

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Those are just a selection of some of the questions we have received. If you have a question about fibroids, no matter what, please do submit it  here or email us