Symptoms

Most fibroids do not cause any symptoms or complaints in patients. However, some symptoms such as abnormal bleeding, disturbingly painful and bleeding menstrual periods, back pain and painful sexual intercourse may be encountered.

In addition, some fibroids can prevent the expansion of the bladder by putting pressure on the bladder due to the mass effect and may cause the patient to go to the toilet frequently. In the same way, as a result of the pressure he puts on, pressure on the breech can lead to the feeling of constantly needing a toilet.

One of the biggest problems in fibroids is that they prevent pregnancy by exhibiting behaviors like a mass in the uterus. Fibroids, especially close to the inner surface of the uterus, can disrupt the appropriate area where the zygote, which is formed by the combination of sperm and egg, will attach.

In addition to these, a palpable mass in the lower part of the abdomen may also be a symptom of fibroids due to the growth of some fibroids that are not noticed due to skipping periodic health checks.

Diagnostic Methods

Fibroids usually occur as a result of routine gynecological examinations, but for the definitive diagnosis, the patient’s history is taken and examined by the physician. A mass can be detected using high resolution ultrasounds along with physical examination.

If the mass is large or if the uterine tissue cannot be clearly distinguished, MRI can be performed to avoid any confusion. With MR imaging, detailed information can be obtained in soft tissues.

Treatment Methods

Most fibroids are detected incidentally, without causing any symptoms or complaints. In such fibroids, fibroids are followed periodically without any treatment.

Apart from this, if the detected fibroids cause some symptoms, some treatments can be applied. Treatment is generally applied by surgical methods. The decision for surgery is made according to the patient’s age, complaints, number and location of fibroids, and whether the patient has a child or not, and the scope of the surgery is determined.

Myoma surgeries can be done in two ways, the first option is to remove the fibroid. If the patient does not have a child and is planning to have a child in the future, removal of the uterine fibroid is performed in order to continue the uterine function in order to have a child until another fibroid occurs.

The second option is the complete removal of the uterus. Since fibroids are tumors produced very frequently by the uterus, if the patient has a child and there is no question of giving birth to another child, it may be recommended to remove the uterus after the age of 40 so that it does not produce fibroids again.

These surgeries can be performed in several different ways:

hysteroscopy

In this method, small fibroids that cause pain and cause frequent or severe bleeding are removed by vaginal entry. Fibroids located under the uterus or in its inner layer can be removed with a special imaging system.

Closed Surgeries

Closed surgeries are performed with laparoscopic or robotic surgery methods. Fibroids larger than 4 – 5 cm are removed from the uterine bed and, if any, bleeding in the area is intervened and it is performed by suturing that area.

Open Surgery

This method involves the removal of very large tumors that have advanced to the upper part of the navel. Due to the large size of the fibroids, there is no area to work in the laparoscopic or robotic method, and the fibroids are cleaned by making an incision with the open surgical method.

In some suitable patients for whom surgery is not preferred, drug treatment can be applied. Although drug treatments do not eliminate fibroids, they can provide benefits such as reducing excessive bleeding caused by fibroids and shrinking fibroids.

In addition, in some suitable patients, the vessels feeding the fibroids are closed with a catheter advanced through the inguinal vein with interventional radiological techniques, thereby preventing the growth of the fibroid and even reducing it.