6 Ways to treat myoma recommended by doctors

Overview of myoma

Myoma is a benign tumor consisting of myometrial smooth muscle. The growth of muscle cells in the uterus is abnormal, forms a coil, and will clot into a ball.

This condition can cause symptoms or not; and will shrink by itself after menopause or after pregnancy. Some of the symptoms that appear include heavy bleeding during menstruation, menstruation for more than a week, constipation, pain in the hips, back, and legs.

Even though it won't become cancer, you still have to regularly monitor myoma growth. Especially when the symptoms are very severe and bothersome.

How to treat myoma recommended by doctors

Does myoma need to be overcome? Myoma growth is sometimes not realized by some women. Because this condition sometimes does not cause any symptoms. In this case, the myoma may not need any treatment.

Conversely, if myoma causes pain and is at risk of causing complications, it means that myoma needs to be treated. The doctor may recommend several ways to treat myoma, both to reduce symptoms and prevent myoma from growing bigger.

1. Take ibuprofen

To reduce pain both in the legs, back, and in the hips, the doctor will give pain relievers such as ibuprofen. However, make sure you follow the directions and rules for taking the medication. Because this drug should not be used in the long term.

2. Underwent hormone therapy

If ibuprofen doesn't work, your doctor will recommend that you consider taking hormone therapy. Doctors still prescribe birth control pills, to control heavy bleeding and prevent anemia, although these drugs will not affect the size of the myoma.

Apart from birth control pills, GNRH (Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone) can be given to myoma patients to shrink myoma and reduce heavy bleeding. But this hormone drug should not be used for more than 6 months because it will increase osteoporosis.

Likewise with SERMs (selective estrogen receptor modulator drugs) which will shrink the size of the myoma. However, the use of this drug is not yet known whether it is effective or not as a way to treat myoma.

3. Fibroid embolization

Fibroid embolization is a method of shrinking myoma by injecting polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) through an artery. This drug will block the blood supply to the myoma so that its size will gradually shrink.

This is not an operation, but requires the patient to be hospitalized. After the injection, the patient will likely experience symptoms of nausea, vomiting, pain and weakness within the first few days.

4. Myomectomy surgery

This step does not use drugs, but through a surgical procedure to remove myoma. You do this by operating the stomach using a hysteroscope or laparoscope to remove the myoma without having to make a large incision in the patient's stomach.

Myomectomy will be highly recommended if the patient has plans to become pregnant. Unfortunately, this surgery will cause scarring, which increases the risk of infertility. After this procedure, the myoma may grow back if not completely removed.

5. Operation hysterectomy

Just like myomectomy, hysterecomy is also a surgical procedure. The difference is, a hysterectomy will completely remove the uterus so that the myoma will not form again.

This procedure can be done by making a large incision in the abdomen or by laparoscopy. This method of treatment will usually be recommended for women who no longer wish to have children.

6. Undergo endometrial ablation

This procedure can destroy the lining of the uterus to reduce bleeding due to myoma. To do this, a special device that has electric current or microwave energy will be inserted into the uterus. After the abnormal growth lining of the uterus is destroyed, the heavy blood flow that is excreted during menstruation can be eliminated.