A social media post has claimed that only herbal medicines can permanently “eradicate” fibroids.
The post made on July 18 was in reaction to a video where Ini Dima-Okojie, the Nollywood actress, announced that her fibroids had returned after her surgery in 2020.
In the video posted on X, Dima-Okojie said she publicly discussed her experience to encourage others battling the condition.
The movie star said she is not in a rush to undergo another surgery and wants to take a holistic approach toward shrinking the fibroids.
Touting herbal medicine as the only remedy, @HerbalistChief, an X user, said surgery is not a permanent solution for fibroids.
“No surgical procedures can treat fibroids. In fact after surgery, it will come back again. Only herbal medicine can permanently eradicate it,” he tweeted.
So far, the post has gathered 1,700,000 views, 6,900 likes, 2,100 bookmarks, 1,900 retweets, and over 300 comments.
WHAT ARE FIBROIDS?
Fibroids are non-cancerous tumours that grow within the uterine walls and originate from the smooth muscle cells that make up the uterus.
It is not completely clear why fibroids appear in the first place, but they have estrogen receptors and grow in response to estrogen stimulation.
Estrogen is the primary sex hormone responsible for the development and regulation of the female reproductive system and secondary sex characteristics.
As such, fibroids are very rare before puberty and after menopause — periods when ovarian estrogen production is low.
However, they are only symptomatic in about half of those affected with the condition.
According to Alex Ades, a specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist accredited by the Health Insurance Commission and the Medical Board of Australia, one in five women will see a doctor in their lifetime because of symptoms caused by fibroids.
Depending on the size and position within the uterus, fibroids can cause heavy bleeding or pressure/pain symptoms.
They are not usually associated with infertility but can cause miscarriages.
VERIFYING THE CLAIMS MADE ON X
One of the claims made by the X user was that no surgical procedure can treat fibroids.
The post added that “after surgery, fibroids will always come back”.
Fehintola Akintunde, a consultant obstetrician gynaecologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Teaching Hospital, clarified that there is a difference between “treatment” and “cure”.
The doctor said while fibroids can be treated, they cannot be cured. This is because tumours that have previously grown in a uterus have a chance of recurrence,” she added.
“Ordinary myomectomy will remove the fibroid and the symptoms will disappear,” Akintunde told TheCable.
“Maybe what they (the X post) are saying is that it may recur. As long as a woman has fibroids, there are microscopic wounds that may recur in the next five, six, seven, 10 years.
“It can recur but they can treat the patient and the symptoms will subside.”
CHECKING THE CLAIM ON HERBAL MEDICINES’ EFFICACY
Funsho Abdul, professor of obstetrics and gynaecology, faculty of clinical sciences, University of Ilorin, said medical experts are still looking for a cure for fibroids.
“We do not know of any yet as I am speaking to you now,” Abdul said.
“I have been a specialist since 1994 and I have not seen any herbal cure but I have seen a lot of help with surgical operations.”
Akintunde is also a senior lecturer at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, College of Health Sciences, OAU.
The gynaecologist said cases of fibroid managed with herbal medicine often cause complications.
“What they do is cause the fibroid to degenerate and that can lead to another problem in the patient,” Akintunde said.
Degenerated fibroids either become cystic and liquify, or they calcify and harden. This means that the growth hardens and shrinks. But they can still cause pain and even interfere with fertility.
“I have seen many of them (patients) like that that come down with severe pain after the use of herbal remedies,” the gynaecologist said.
“Herbal medicine does not do as much as orthodox medicine will do.”
Abdul, whose research is on reproductive health, prenatal genetics, and fibroids, said medication, surgical procedures, and cutting off blood supply to the part of the womb where the fibroid is located are established ways of treating fibroids.
VERDICT
The claim that no surgical procedure can treat fibroids is false. Fibroids can indeed be treated with surgery. While there is a chance that fibroids could recur after surgery, this is not guaranteed.
Additionally, the claim that only herbal medicine can heal fibroids is unproven. Experts have yet to verify this.
