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Myomectomy
Myomectomy is the surgical removal of fibroids
from the uterus. It allows the uterus to be left
in place and, for some women, makes pregnancy
more likely than before. Myomectomy is the preferred
fibroid treatment for women who want to become
pregnant. After myomectomy, your chances of pregnancy
may be improved, but are not guaranteed.
Fibroid (Myoma)
Also known as a myoma or leiomyoma, a benign
(noncancerous) tumor found in the wall of the
uterus. Fibroids are extremely common; more than
40% of all women develop fibroids, and most do
not cause symptoms or require treatment. Some
fibroids, however, may cause problems with fertility
and should be removed. They may also be removed
if they are growing large enough to cause pressure
on other organs, such as the bladder, or are causing
abnormal bleeding.
Uterine fibroids, also known
as myomas, are non-cancerous tumors of the lining
or muscular walls of the uterus. More than 40%
of all women develop fibroids, and most fibroids
do not cause symptoms or require treatment. However,
fibroids may require treatment in the following
circumstances:
- if they are growing large
enough to cause pressure on other organs, such
as the bladder.
- if they are causing abnormal
bleeding
- if they are causing problems
with fertility
Fibroids are classified by their location (see
figure), which effects the symptoms they may cause
and how they can be treated. Fibroids that are
inside the cavity of the uterus (intracavitary
myomas) will usually cause bleeding between periods
(metrorrhagia) and often cause severe cramping.
Submucous myomas are partially in the cavity and
partially in the wall of the uterus. They too
can cause heavy menstrual periods (menorrhagia),
well as bleeding between periods.
Intramural myomas are in the wall of the uterus,
and can range in size from microscopic to larger
than a grapefruit. Many of these do not cause
problems unless they become quite large.
Subserous myomas are on the outside wall of the
uterus. A fibroid may even be connected to the
uterus by a stalk (pedunculated myoma.)
Treatment
Fibroid tumors can often be
removed in a surgical procedure called a laparoscopic
myomectomy. For patients who are candidates, this
surgical approach allows a woman to avoid a large
incision in her abdomen, which is the way traditional
myomectomies are performed.
What
Causes Fibroids?
Fibroids are stimulated by the hormone estrogen,
which is produced naturally in a woman’s body.
Although oestrogen seems to make the fibroids
grow, it's not thought to be responsible for their
initial development. A fibroid starts as a single
muscle cell in the uterus. For reasons that are
not known, this cell changes into a fibroid tumor
cell and starts to grow and multiply to weigh
several pounds. They grow slowly. These growths
can show up as early as age 20 and shrink after
menopause when a woman’s body stops producing
large amounts of estrogen.
Heredity may be a factor-Some women with many
fibroids may have an inherited tendency toward
developing them. There are clearly patterns of
fibroids that run in families, and medical science
can’t yet explain properly.
Another possible reason is the role of emotions.
Most women know that their fibroid symptoms are
definitely affected by their emotional lives (very
stressful job, unhappy or abusive relationship,
stress, etc.).
Changes in a woman's hormone levels. The more
estrogen that fibroids are exposed to, the faster
they grow.
Fibroids symptoms weight gain - obesity and
poor diet are important factors, since toxins
are frequently stored in fatty tissues - and fatty
tissues produces estrogen, which in turn produces
cell growth, enlarging the fibroids.
At menopause, fibroids stop growing and shrink
dramatically, because the production of estrogen
in the ovaries goes down to 40 to 60 percent.
Symptoms of fibroids may
include:
• Heavy or long menstrual periods.
Periods may last more than seven days and menstrual
flow may be very heavy
• Pelvic Pressure or Discomfort "feeling
full" in the lower abdomen, lower abdominal
pain— Women with large fibroids may have
a sense of heaviness or pressure in the lower
abdomen or pelvis. This discomfort is similar
to pregnancy .
o If fibroids press on the bladder , a woman may
feel the urge to urinate frequently.
o If fibroids press on the bowel , she may feel
constipated or full after eating only a small
amount of food.
o If fibroids press on one or both urethras (the
tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder),
they may partially block the flow of urine. A
woman may not be aware of this because it often
isn't painful. Over time, however, this kind of
blockage can lead to kidney infections or other
serious kidney damage.
• Low Back Pain — Fibroids that
press against the muscles and nerves of the lower
back can cause back pain.
• Rectal Pressure — Fibroids
also can press against the rectum and cause a
sense of rectal fullness, difficulty having a
bowel movement or pain with bowel movements. Occasionally,
fibroids can lead to the development of piles.
• Increase in size around your waist
and change in abdominal contour (You may need
to increase your clothing size but not because
of a significant weight gain.)
• Infertility, which is defined
as an inability to become pregnant after 1 year
of attempting to get pregnant
• A pelvic mass discovered
by your health care provider during a physical
examination
Need To Know -IMPORTANT
!!
Problems like those caused by fibroids can also
have other causes. It is important to consult
with a doctor first before you conclude.
Fibroids are more common among the black race
people than other races.At least 30% of black
women will have fibroids.In 75% of these women
will not have any symtoms and the fibroids are
found coincidently for example when they come
for a pap smear examination, general routine check
up etc.
The 25% of these women though will have varying
problems like heavy periods,infertility paiful
periods etc.These sysmptoms will depend depending
upon the size,location and position of fibroids
within the uterus.
The cause of these benign tumors is unknown for
the moment but we believe the are genetic in origin.
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