Myoma uteri: symptoms, causes, to treatment

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Definition

What are uterine myomas (uterine fibroids)?

Uterine myomas or also known as uterine fibroids are benign tumors (myomas) that do not have cancerous properties.

This condition can be described as uterine muscle cells that grow abnormally.

Tumors range in size, can be small or even large to affect the uterus.

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, uterine myoma which can also be called a liomyoma almost never develops into cancer.

In certain extreme cases, some fibroids can expand the uterus to reach the ribs and gain weight.

How common is this condition?

Many women have uterine myomas, uterine fibroids, or leiomyomas. In fact, it is possible that you may have one or more myomas.

However, most women do not know when they have this condition because it often causes no symptoms.

Your doctor may find myoma accidentally when you do a pelvic exam or prenatal ultrasound.

Uterine fibroids with fertility

About 5% to 10% of fertility problems in women usually also have uterine myomas or uterine fibroids.

Their size and location determine whether they can affect fertility.

For example, when the myoma is in the uterine cavity, it is very large (> 6 cm in diameter) or inside the uterine wall.

Therefore, it is possible for women with fibroids to experience infertility.

Consult a doctor or fertility specialist in order to assess myoma in the body.

Signs and symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of uterine myoma?

Many women are not aware that they have uterine fibroids (uterine fibroids) because they do not have any symptoms.

If you are diagnosed with myoma in the uterus, usually the symptoms that appear can be influenced by the location, size, and number of myoma.

Generally, symptoms of uterine myoma or uterine fibroids can be characterized by the following conditions:

• Heavy menstrual bleeding.
• Menstrual periods that last more than a week.
• You may feel a lump in the stomach
• Pressure on the pelvis causing pain.
• Urinating frequently.
• Difficulty emptying the bladder.
• Back pain or leg pain.
• Have fertility problems.

Uterine myomas are usually categorized based on their location. There is a type called intramural myoma, which is myoma that grows inside the muscle wall of the uterus.

Fibroids or submucosal myoma usually occurs due to myoma growing in the thinnest layer in the uterine cavity which results in a lump appearing into the uterine cavity.

Meanwhile, the subserosal myoma was detected growing to the outside of the uterus, this is the most common type.

Last is fibroid or pediculated myoma, namely the myoma that stalks and can grow on the inside or outside of the uterine wall

When to see a doctor

It's good, you immediately see and consult a doctor if you have:

• Pelvic pain that doesn't go away.
• Menstruation is long and painful.
• There is spotting or blood suddenly, but not menstruation.
• Difficulty emptying the bladder.
• Have severe vaginal bleeding or pelvic pain that comes on suddenly.

Cause

What causes uterine myoma (uterine fibroids)?

Until now, it is not certain what causes myoma uteri. However, there are several things that cause this condition to occur, including:

1. Changes and genetic factors.

Many myomas occur due to genetic changes that occur in normal uterine muscle cells.

Then, if the closest family has this condition, it will increase your chances of having uterine fibroids.

2. Hormone levels

Estrogen and progesterone are two hormones that stimulate the development of the lining of the uterus during each menstrual cycle to prepare for pregnancy.

This could be at risk of increasing the appearance of myoma or abnormal cells in the uterine wall.

Uterine myomas generally tend to shrink or rarely occur after a woman experiences menopause because of decreased hormone production.

3. Other foreign substance factors.

Substances that help the body maintain tissue, such as insulin, can affect the growth of fibroids or myoma.

Doctors believe that uterine myomas develop from stem cells in the smooth muscle tissue of the uterus (myometrium).

This is because one cell divides repeatedly, creating a mass or tumor.

The growth of this uterine myoma is different, some grow fast and some are slow.

Even so, the tumor or myoma can shrink by itself. In some cases, there are uterine myomas that disappear after pregnancy.

Risk Factors

What puts me at a higher risk of developing this condition?

There are several things that increase your risk of developing uterine fibroids or uterine myoma.

One of them is being in reproductive age or not yet menopause.

There are also several other factors that can cause you to experience this condition:

Heredity

If your mother or sister has a myoma in the uterus, you may also be at risk for this disease

Race

Black women tend to be more prone to developing uterine fibroids than women from other racial groups.

In addition, black women also tend to experience more or larger myomas at a young age.

Environmental factor

What is the lifestyle you usually live? There are several conditions that can increase the risk of developing myoma in the uterus, such as:

• Use of contraceptives
• Being overweight or obese
• Vitamin deficiency
• Diet high in red meat and low in green vegetables
• Likes to drink alcohol
• and others

Diagnosis and Treatment

What are the treatment options for uterine myoma (uterine fibroids)?

Most uterine myomas do not need treatment.

You only need to do routine checks to make sure the tumor or myoma doesn't grow too large or cause other problems.

In addition, taking the medication prescribed by the doctor can also be used as a hormone inhibitor.

If symptoms persist, the doctor may suggest surgical removal of the uterus or perhaps just myoma. Especially if you are still planning a pregnancy.

Then, there are other methods such as:

• A new method of uterine artery embolization involves cutting the blood vessels around the uterus.
• A mechanical lysis method, an electric current is used to destroy fibroids and shrink blood vessels.
• Method cryogenic, which uses liquid nitrogen.

Even after cleaning, uterine myoma can recur and the patient has to undergo another operation.

Medicines can inhibit the growth of fibroids but only temporarily.

Do I need a myomectomy procedure?

Myomectomy is a type of surgery performed to remove uterine myoma or uterine fibroids.

The doctor will recommend doing a myomectomy if there are symptoms, such as:

• Pelvic pain
• Menstrual bleeding that is too heavy, prolonged and irregular
• Urinating too often

Myomectomy procedures can treat the symptoms that arise. However, fibroids can still grow again, especially in women at a young age.

Abdominal myomectomy

Abdominal myomectomy is the surgical removal of fibroids by opening the lower abdomen.

The doctor will perform surgery horizontally along 7.7-10 cm just above the pubic bone.

Surgery can also be performed by making a vertical incision, right from below the navel down.

This procedure is considered a good way for women who experience:

• Large tumors or uterine fibroids
• There is a lot of tissue or growth in a fairly deep location in the uterus.

Laparoscopic myomectomy

Laparoscopic myomectomy is needed for cases of uterine tumors that are still small and only some fibroid tissue has grown.

Small incisions will be made 1-1.27 cm in size in the lower abdomen. Then, the stomach is filled with carbon dioxide gas so that the surgeon can clearly monitor the condition of the fibroids.

Then, the doctor will insert an instrument called a laparoscope into the small incision that has been made under the stomach.

Laparoscopy is a very thin device equipped with a small light and camera.

Furthermore, with this tool the fibroid tissue will be destroyed until it becomes small.

Hysteroscopic myomectomy

This medical procedure is a surgical removal of fibroids that is performed through the vagina and cervix.

The surgeon will also insert a thin, light device through the vagina or cervix.

Then, there will be fluid inserted in the uterus to enlarge the fibroid area more clearly.

Next, the surgeon then uses loop the wire will destroy the fibroid tissue.

Then, you will be given fluids again to rinse the area

What are the usual tests for uterine fibroids?

To check for uterine myoma (uterine fibroids), the doctor will perform a pelvic exam.

If you have symptoms of myoma, your doctor may order the following tests:

Ultrasound

This method uses sound waves to confirm a diagnosis and looks for and determines the size of the tumor.

The ultrasound that is done is usually similar to a regular pregnancy ultrasound or using an intravaginal ultrasound.

Blood test

If you have abnormal vaginal bleeding, your doctor will check for possible causes.

Includes a blood count (CBC) for chronic anemia as well as other blood tests to rule out coagulopathy or thyroid disease.

If conventional ultrasound does not provide clear enough information, the doctor will recommend clearer imaging facilities, such as:

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

This method can show the size, location of the myoma, identify different types of tumors, and choose the right treatment.

Hysteroscopy

The hysteroscopic technique is performed by placing a small tube containing a light detector through the cervix and into the uterus.

The doctor will inject a saline solution into the uterus to enlarge the uterine cavity to allow observation into the uterus and fallopian tubes.

Home Remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be made?

Here are lifestyle and home remedies that can help you treat uterine myoma or uterine fibroids:

1. Take control of your weight

According to a study published in the Asia Pacific Journal of clinical Nutrition in 2013, obesity and vigorous exercise can increase the risk of developing tumors in the uterus.

This is because the fat cells in a woman's body are high in estrogen, a hormone that can trigger cancer growth.

For those of you who are obese, immediately lose weight until you reach normal body weight. This can help shrink tumors lodged in the uterus.

2. Adjust your diet

Everything you eat has an impact on your body. Either it triggers or inhibits the growth of uterine fibroids.

Eating the right types of food can help maintain weight, which in turn relieves symptoms of uterine fibroids.

Food that must be consumed

Consumption of foods high in fiber can help reduce inflammation caused by uterine fibroids.

Not only that, these types of food can also balance the body's hormones and prevent you from gaining weight drastically.

A variety of high-fiber foods that are good for you to consume include:

• Vegetable and fruit
• Dried fruit
• Whole grain
• Red rice
• Lentils and nuts
• Whole wheat bread and pasta
• Quinoa

Foods to avoid

A study revealed that eating mostly red meat can increase the risk of uterine fibroids.

Likewise, when you eat a lot of refined carbohydrates and are high in sugar, such as:

• White rice, pasta and flour
• Soda and other high-sugar drinks
• Corn syrup
• Cake,cookies, donuts
• Potato chips

3. Keep blood pressure normal

According to research published in the American Journal of Hypertension in 2015, high blood pressure, aka hypertension, can cause uterine fibroids.

Limit consumption of high-salt foods to keep blood pressure normal. In addition, don't forget to check your blood pressure regularly.

4. Moderate exercise

A study has shown that women who exercise for seven hours per week can reduce their risk of causing uterine fibroids.

Probably because weight loss is easier, so that it can suppress the growth of uterine tumors.

Just do light exercise such as jogging, yoga for fertility, swimming, or other types of exercise that you like on a regular basis.