Myoma disease: causes, symptoms, to treatment

Definition

What is myoma disease?

Myoma disease is a benign tumor consisting of muscle tissue. This condition forms in the lower uterus. This disease is also known as fibroid, leiomyoma, leiomyomata, or fibromyoma.

Myoma can appear as one myoma, or a group of small myoma. Fibroids can range in size from 1 mm to 20 cm.

The four types of myoma are:

Subserous. This type of fibroid grows in the uterus and spreads to the outside of the cervix.
Intramural. This type of fibroid grows only in the uterus, which may increase the size of the uterus.
Submucosa. This type of fibroid develops inside the lining of the uterus, which means it can affect the menstrual cycle, resulting in infertility and miscarriage.
Pedunculated. This type of fibroid is connected to the outside or inside of the uterus by means of a small stalk.

How common is myoma?

Myoma disease is a common condition. About 75 percent of women will have fibroids at some point. Women are more likely to develop myoma symptoms at reproductive age, which is 16 to 50 years.

You can control myoma symptoms by reducing the risk factors for this condition. Talk to your doctor for more information.

Symptoms

What are the symptoms of myoma?

In many cases, this disease does not cause significant symptoms. In fact, only 25 percent of cases have symptoms.

However, some of the signs or symptoms of myoma are:

The menstrual period is very long and heavy
Experiencing pain in the back of the leg
Experiencing pain or pressure in the pelvis
Experiencing pain during intercourse
Frequent urination due to myoma pressure on the bladder
Constipation or bloating
Enlarged stomach

Some of the other signs and symptoms of myoma may not be listed above. If you feel anxious about these myoma symptoms, consult your doctor immediately.

When to go to the doctor

If you have any signs or symptoms listed above or have any questions, consult your doctor. Every body functions differently from one another.

Always discuss with your doctor to find the best solution for your situation.

Cause

What causes myoma?

Scientists have not found the cause of myoma. However, it is suspected that this disease is related to estrogen levels in a woman's body. Estrogen is a female reproductive hormone produced by the ovaries.

Fibroids usually develop from around the age of 16 to 50, when the level of estrogen in a woman's body is at its highest. However, fibroid growth usually decreases when estrogen levels are low, such as after menopause.

According to the allegations of various researchers, the causes of myoma are:

Overweight

Myoma disease also often appears in people who are overweight or obese. That is why, experts suspect that obesity is one of the factors causing myoma.

Genetic factors

Other causes of myoma are genetic factors. If you have a mother, sibling, or grandmother with a history of this disease, then you are at high risk of developing myoma in the future.

Menstrual abnormalities

Not only that, menstruation that is too early can also be a cause of myoma.

The growth pattern of myoma varies greatly in each patient. Myoma disease can grow slowly or quickly, or it may remain the same size since it first appeared.

Some fibroids experience rapid growth, and some may shrink on their own. Many fibroids that appear during pregnancy shrink or disappear after pregnancy, as the uterus returns to its normal size.

Please consult with your doctor to find out the cause of myoma further.

Risk factors

What increases the risk of developing myoma?

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, several things that can increase your risk of developing myoma are:

You are at the productive age, around 16-50 years
Abnormal estrogen levels due to medical conditions or drug use
Have a family history of this disease
Black women are more likely to develop fibroids
Experiencing menstruation too early
Eating too much red meat than green vegetables, fruits, and dairy products
Drinking alcohol, including beer, to excess

There may be several causal risk factors which were not mentioned above. If you are concerned about other risk factors for myoma, please consult a doctor for more information.

Diagnosis

How to diagnose myoma disease?

Myoma is the most commonly diagnosed tumor in the pelvis of women. This condition is often discovered incidentally during routine pelvic exams.

Your doctor may feel the irregular shape of your uterus and point to fibroid symptoms. If your doctor suspects that you have myoma symptoms, your doctor may suggest that you do:

Ultrasound

Your doctor will do a trans abdominal or trans vaginal ultrasound test using sound waves to get a picture of your uterus. That way the doctor can see the shape and size of the fibroids in the patient's uterus to confirm the diagnosis.

When you do an ultrasound, gel will be applied to your abdomen or vagina, and then the doctor will move a control stick called a transducer over the body part.

This transducer will send high frequency sound waves to the organs and body fluids in the area. These sound waves will then bounce back in the form of an electrical signal to the machine which will convert them into images.

You can see a picture of your internal organs on the monitor screen.

Laboratory test

If you experience abnormal menstrual bleeding, your doctor may order other tests to investigate other causes of myoma. This may include a complete blood count (CBC) test.

A complete blood count test is done to determine whether you have anemia or not. In addition, your doctor may order other blood tests to see if you have any bleeding problems or thyroid problems.

Imaging test

If an ultrasound doesn't provide enough information, your doctor may order imaging tests to make a diagnosis. Some of the imaging tests that can be done include:

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

These imaging tests can show the size and location of the fibroids, identify different types of tumors and help determine the appropriate treatment options.

Hysterosonography

Hysterosonography, also called a saline infusion sonogram (SIS), is performed using sterile saline / physiological fluids. This procedure is performed to expand the uterine cavity, so that it is easier for the doctor to see an image of the patient's fibroids and endometrium.

Hysterosalpingography (HSG)

Hysterosalpingography is done by injecting a special dye through the cervix into the uterus and fallopian tubes. That way, the doctor can see the patient's uterine cavity and fallopian tubes clearly on the monitor screen.

Doctors usually recommend this procedure if the doctor suspects an infertility problem. Apart from being able to determine the presence or absence of fibroids in the uterus, this procedure can also help the doctor determine whether your fallopian tubes are open or not.

Hysteroscopy

This procedure is done by inserting a small telescope called a hysteroscope through your cervix (cervix) into your uterus. After the hysterescope is inserted, the doctor will inject a special fluid into the opening of the uterus.

This is done so that the doctor can see the inside of the uterine cavity clearly. In addition to examining the uterine cavity, doctors usually do this examination to see the condition of your ovaries and vagina.

Treatment

The information described is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How to treat myoma disease?

Treatment is usually carried out if the patient experiences myoma symptoms that interfere with his daily activities. In cases that do not cause symptoms, treatment is usually unnecessary.

Various treatment options to treat myoma are:

Drugs

Medicines that may be able to treat myoma are:

Pain relievers

You can take pain medications, such as ibuprofen. This medicine is generally used to reduce pain due to bleeding during menstruation. However, before taking pain relievers make sure you follow the directions for use on the label so you don't take more than the recommended dosage.

Family planning pills

Your doctor may prescribe birth control pills to help control bleeding and anemia that results from growing fibroids. A study found that the use of combined hormonal contraceptives (birth control pills) or progestin alone contraceptives can reduce the volume or size of fibroids.

However, for some people taking birth control pills may cause fibroids to grow. Please consult a doctor for more information.

GnRH agonist

Medicines called GR-RH agonists (Lupron, Synarel, and others) treat fibroids by blocking the production of estrogen and progesterone. This makes you will experience the postmenopausal state for some time.

As a result, you will stop menstruating, the fibroids will slowly shrink, and you will also avoid the risk of anemia.

Usually doctors prescribe this drug for you to help reduce the size of the fibroids before you have surgery. Unfortunately, these drugs are expensive.

In addition, you should not take it for more than 6 months because this medicine can increase your risk of experiencing it hot flash and get osteoporosis, which makes your bones too weak.

Your doctor may also prescribe a low dose of progestin, another hormone, to reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis. When you stop taking GnRH agonist drugs, your fibroids can grow back.

SERM

SERMs are a type of drug that affects the levels of estrogen in your body. SERM itself is a selective estrogen receptor modulator. This medication can help shrink fibroids without causing menopausal symptoms.

But researchers aren't sure how well this drug works to help shrink fibroids. Ask your doctor for more information regarding this drug.

Tranexamic acid

This non-hormonal drug is usually used to relieve heavy menstrual cycles, such as excessive bleeding. For those of you who are planning to have children, you can take this drug for the treatment of fibroids.

IUD

Although it will not reduce the size of fibroids, this hormonal contraceptive can help relieve myoma symptoms such as bleeding and menstrual cramps. However, the placement of the IUD contraception must be adjusted according to the location of the fibrioid. The reason is, there are several types of IUD contraception that are quite annoying if you have to come into contact with existing fibroids.

Invasive surgical procedure (involving incisions)

If various treatments such as those mentioned above do not relieve existing myoma symptoms, the doctor may recommend surgery. Surgery is usually the best treatment option if the myoma is severe enough.

Ask your doctor about the benefits and side effects that you must face when performing certain surgeries to remove myomas.

The following are some invasive surgery options to remove the myoma are:

Hysterectomy

This surgery is usually used when the fibroids are large enough. The doctor will remove the entire uterus, so you will not be able to get pregnant after this operation.

This method is effective for preventing fibroid regrowth in the future.

Myomectomy

If you have more than one fibroid, it is large enough and deep, your doctor may recommend doing this surgery to remove the fibroids.

This procedure is suitable for those of you who are planning to become pregnant. Unfortunately, this procedure is not available for all types of fibroids. It is possible for fibroids to grow back after surgery, so you may need further surgery.

Non-invasive procedure (no incisions)

Myoma is generally treated with surgical removal. However, thanks to advances in science, there are several non-invasive treatments available for you.

One treatment that is gaining in popularity is MR guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS). This treatment uses ultrasound waves to destroy the myoma without causing damage to the tissue.

Minimally invasive procedure

Minimally invasive procedure options for myoma are:

Uterine artery embolization.

Your doctor will inject polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) into the arteries that supply the fibroids. PVA will inhibit blood supply to fibroids, so that the size of the myoma will shrink.

This procedure is usually used on women who have very large fibroids. Although it is not a surgical procedure, you may need to spend a few nights in the hospital. Ask your doctor about all the benefits and risks of this procedure.

Endometrial ablation

Endometrial ablation is a medical procedure that doctors perform to destroy the lining of the uterus. This procedure aims to reduce excessive menstrual bleeding for women who have small fibroids on the birth wall.

Myolysis

This procedure is performed using a laparoscopic method which involves radio waves, electric current or laser to destroy the fibroids, shrinking the blood vessels that supply the fibroids. A similar procedure is called cryomyolysis to freeze fibroids using liquid nitrogen.

Laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy

In a myomectomy procedure, the surgeon will remove the fibroid by involving an incision in the abdomen. However, if the number of fibroids is low, the doctor may use a laparoscopic or robotic procedure to remove the fibroid tissue.

This procedure uses a slender instrument that is inserted through a small incision in your abdomen to remove fibroids from your uterus.

Hysteroscopic myomectomy

This procedure may be an option if the fibroids are in the uterus (submucosa). Your surgeon will remove fibroids using a special instrument that is inserted through your vagina and cervix into your uterus.