As a rule, fibroids mainly occur in women between the ages of 25 and 50. They can be single muscle nodules or numerous fibroids in the uterine wall. Myomas vary in size. There are cases in which they have grown up to 20 centimetres and weighed over 4000g.
Approximately every second woman affected has no symptoms at all - which is why these women only need to be observed initially. The others, however, very often suffer from bleeding disorders, such as heavy or prolonged, very painful menstruation. Less frequently, myoma patients experience unspecific abdominal pain, bladder problems such as frequent urination, lower back pain or pain during sexual intercourse.
Myomas usually cause severe abdominal pain @ SENTELLO /AdobeStock
Myoma symptoms always occur when the growth grows and presses on neighboring organs. This can affect vital organs in the body or cause pain. Consequences of fibroids can include urinary tract infections andanemia. In some cases, fibroids are also seen as a possible cause of an unfulfilled desire to have children and are treated by a fibroid specialist in this context.
If the symptoms are more severe, fibroids can also be treated using various methods. The treatment depends primarily on the symptoms, the size and location of the fibroid, the age of the woman and the desire to have children.
The treatment of fibroids includes surgical interventions such as the surgical removal of the fibroid or fibroid embolization. Another option is treatment with ultrasound or medicinal myoma therapy with hormones, which, however, is only used for a short time.
It is somewhat more difficult if the fibroids develop before pregnancy. These fibroids are not always noticeable during pregnancy. In principle, however, pregnancy promotes the growth of fibroids due to the changed hormone situation.
Since the influence of fibroids on the desire to have children and pregnancy can be a major burden for women, particularly close coordination between the patient, the treating gynaecologist and any specialist fibroid center involved is required.
Furthermore, myoma therapy is not based on surgical treatment alone; many myoma centers in Germany now have interdisciplinary associations of doctors, physiotherapists and other non-medical professions.
The specialists responsible for treatment at the myoma center require specialist training in gynecology. It is also important that the patient receives expert care before, during and after the operation. Many of the myoma centers active in Germany today therefore have a close network of pain and physiotherapists, self-help groups and psychological counselors.
A reliable myoma center offers women comprehensive care beyond the operation that may have become necessary. Psychological stress in particular must be dealt with as quickly as possible in order to improve the quality of life of women with fibroids. Furthermore, a myoma center will always strive to preserve the uterus. Should removal of the uterus nevertheless be necessary, which may well occur in exceptional cases, it is always best to have such an operation performed at a myoma center with good specialist expertise.