Many women live every day without knowing that they have myoma, as they often have no symptoms. What should be considered so as not to take this condition unknowingly?
What is Myoma?
Myoma or leiomyomas (lie-o-my-O-muhs) are the most common type of benign or non-cancerous tumor in the female reproductive system. It is also known as uterine fibroids, and is detected by ultrasound.
According to the medical article Hysteroscopy for Evaluating and Treating Recurrent Pregnancy Loss by Steven F. Palter, it grows in the uterus, and about 70% of women know they have it when they are 50 years old. Because fibroids start small, they can barely be seen, and they gradually grow, until they reach the size of the uterus. There may be only one, and there may be many of them, explains Grace Alvarez, RN.
In some cases, multiple fibroids or myomas grow until they reach the bottom of the chest and rib cage. "It usually happens at the child-bearing age that the patient does not know he already has, then later on when he really grows up, only then will he know," added nurse Grace.
The common problem is that the patient does not see it immediately, or the patient does not immediately know that he has myoma, because sometimes no symptoms of myoma in a woman can be felt, nurse Grace added.
Decades often even count, and it is not known even if the OB GYN is often visited. Until you need an ultrasound or pelvic exam for some other reason, or just see if it is too big. Only then can it be accidentally seen with a myoma shovel.
Symptoms of Myoma in women
Symptoms of myoma in women are related to the location, size, and number of fibroids. If you experience one or more of the following, consult your OB GYN or doctor immediately to begin understanding what causes the symptoms, and deeper conditions.
According to a medical article by S. Gene McNeeley, MD, a Clinical Professor at Michigan State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, the symptoms of myoma are as follows:
Heavy menstruation, lasting a week or more
Pain in the abdomen and pelvic pressure, which does not go away
Bleeding or spotting between monthly visits
Always urinating, but it is difficult to urinate
Constipation, or incontinence
Back and leg pain
It hurts when having sex
Symptoms of myoma in women.
Heavy bleeding can cause anemia, and is accompanied by fatigue and extreme weakness.
When myoma becomes infected, it can become even more painful, and may include bleeding, or vaginal discharge. Rarely but there are also times when there is a lump in the abdomen. There are myomas that grow inside the muscular uterine wall, some that are in the uterine cavity, and some that grow outside the uterus.
If the myoma is large, it can prevent the release of urine or urine, making it difficult to get out. This can be the beginning of a UTI. The so-called prolapsed myomas, which are in the mouth of the vagina, which in turn causes infection or bleeding, or both.
What causes it?
No one really knows where uterine fibroids come from or how they are. All that has been learned from scientific medical research is the common factors that can potentially affect such as genetic changes, and hormones especially estrogen and progesterone.
It is said that myoma may decrease during menopause because of the low production of hormones. There are also myomas that grow during pregnancy but also disappear after pregnancy, as the uterus returns to its former size.
Still according to Dr. McNeeley, who is also Chief of Gynecology of the Center for Advanced Gynecology and Pelvic Health, said uterine fibroids can come from uterine stem cells (myometrium) that split several times, and become small masses.
Symptoms of myoma in women
What could be the complication?
Although the presence of myoma is not dangerous to overall health, there are complications such as anemia due to blood loss.
It is also not usually harmful in pregnancy, but there are fibroids that cause infertility or miscarriage in the first few weeks of pregnancy. It is also possible to have complications such as placental abruption, fetal growth restriction and preterm delivery, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Is myoma removed?
Myoma can be removed by surgery (myomectomy), if it shows symptoms in the woman. Is there a cure for myoma?
If the myoma is small and there are no visible complications, it does not need to be treated. And if it is removed without affecting the uterus, the patient can still have children. If it is large, it may be necessary to remove the entire uterus (hysterectomy).
Symptoms of myoma in women
No scientific research has yet been found on what causes myoma and what can be done to prevent its occurrence.
The only thing doctors can advise is to have healthy lifestyle choices, such as exercise and eating fruits and vegetables. Maintaining a normal weight can help prevent myoma from developing.
Checking up every year is also important, nurse Grace advised. A pap smear test is included to determine the condition of the cervix and uterus. And to see if there are signs of myoma along with other tests like ultrasound. Myoma can be diagnosed by a doctor through a pelvic exam. But other tests will need money to determine the condition and treatment.
Grace Alvarez, RN
Hysteroscopy for Evaluating and Treating Recurrent Pregnancy Loss by Steven F. Palter
S. Gene McNeeley, MD, Clinical Professor, Michigan State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine and Chief of Gynecology of the Center for Advanced Gynecology and Pelvic Health
Mayo Clinic, Science Direct, MSD Manual
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