Fibroids tend to grow during the years before menopause and then atrophy after menopause. They grow in response to excess oestrogen, or in other words oestrogen dominance, where the natural progesterone is not being balanced by the oestrogen in the body.

Fibroids can be painful and the cause of heavy bleeding which can in turn lead to anaemia and are a major reason for hysterectomy being performed. Supplementing with bioidentical natural progesterone helps shrink fibroids, but a new study indicates that lack of vitamin D can also be a factor in them forming.

In a study of study of 1,036 women, aged 35-49, living in the Washington, D.C., area it was discovered that women who had sufficient amounts of vitamin D were 32 percent less likely to develop fibroids than women with insufficient vitamin D.

The study was carried out by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and those from George Washington University and the Medical University of South Carolina.

How to increase vitamin D levels

Ensuring good vitamin D levels is good for health in many ways and the body can make it from the sun as it forms under the skin in reaction to light. So the best way is regular, sensible, exposure to sunlight, something not always available in the northern hemisphere, even in summer! Many use supplements, but there are small amounts from these foods:

* oily fish

* milk

* cereals

* eggs

Helpful information:

Tackling oestrogen dominance is the first place to start if you already have fibroids, or believe you have oestrogen dominance symptoms, then supplementing with bioidentical natural progesterone can help prevent and shrink small fibroids as they develop. Women generally at menopause are producing oestrogen still in the fat cells, so tackling any oestrogen dominance will help minimise risk at any age.