Red Light Therapy for Fibroids
If fibroids are stopping you from starting a family you’re probably feeling quite disillusioned with the lack of solutions offered by traditional gynecological treatments. But there IS hope and it starts with light - specifically laser light treatments.
Research suggests that fibroids are directly connected to immune system malfunction. This explains why some women’s fibroids continue to grow. When the immune system is healthy, it locates and destroys these overactive cells; but, in cases of fibroids, this process is compromised. Whenever I hear someone talking about fibroids I automatically think ‘chronic inflammation’ and one of the most powerful tools in our arsenal these days to regulate inflammation is laser photobiomodulation. More and more fertility experts are in agreement that a core issue with the growing infertility crisis is due to our immune system being dysregulated, this is quite evident when it comes to repeat implantation failure after IVF.
Photobiomodulation for Uterine Fibroids
One form of red light therapy, laser treatment, stimulates the body's own healing mechanisms by means of focused light. Unlike red light panels (LEDs), which only treat surfaces, lasers reach deep into tissues and are therefore particularly useful for treating fibroids at their source. It’s estimated that around 70% of women will experience some level of fibroid growth.
How Does Laser PBM Impact Fibroids?
1. Reducing inflammation
By lowering cytokines and other inflammatory markers, laser treatment helps the irritated tissue to be calmed down. This "calm-down" action breaks the fibroid cycle of growth and lets the uterus begin to repair.
2. Reversing Immune System Deficiency
Laser treatment helps immune cells in their job to find and destroy fibroid tissue by stimulating cells and lowering oxidative stress.
3. Balancing the Extracellular Matrix (ECM)
The ECM is like the "scaffolding" that supports your cells. In fibroids, this scaffolding gets thicker and more solid, making it harder for cells to function properly. Laser therapy works like adding water to a dried-out hardened sponge—it softens and balances the ECM, helping your body restore normal tissue function.
Breaking Down the Excess: Laser therapy helps "clean up" the excess fibers in the ECM, much like wringing out a sponge to remove extra water.
Encouraging Repair: It signals your body to rebuild healthy tissue, ensuring the "sponge" stays flexible and supportive.
*(When I was researching studies on fibroids and PBM I discovered that another disease Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and uterine fibroids share several some common symptoms related to the dysfunction of the extracellular matrix. Both conditions involve abnormal ECM remodeling, chronic inflammation, and cellular signaling pathways. It’s important to note, the studies on IPF using laser therapy demonstrated significant improvements in quality of life but it’s not a magic cure. Laser light seems to stop the inflammatory process so the disease doesn’t continue to get worse)
4. Improvement of Blood Flow
Reducing fibroids requires adequate circulation. Laser treatment helps move irritating, inflammatory waste materials away from the uterus. By increasing blood flow, we’re bringing more oxygen and healthy nutrients to the area and taking away waste.
5. Boosting Cellular Repair
Targeting mitochondria, the energy factories of cells, laser treatment increases their output. This extra energy helps uterine cells heal themselves and operate as they should.
I hope this information is reassuring if your fertility challenges are due to fibroids or if you simply want to improve your quality of life. Laser treatment holds promise for so many challenges in women’s reproductive health.
*LED Panels and Fibroids
Although LED light panels are excellent for surface-level problems, they can’t get a therapeutic dosage to deep tissues like the uterus. Consider it like watering a garden: LEDs are like a sprinkler system and cover the surface with water, while lasers get that ‘water’ to the surface and right down to the ‘roots’ where you need it the most. LEDs will still benefit you, but when time is of the essence, lasers are the gold standard.
Find a fertility laser specialist in your community or come see me in my Round Rock TX office.
Tracy
Update on the Role and Regulatory Mechanism of Extracellular Matrix in the Pathogenesis of Uterine Fibroids
