A myomectomy is the removal of fibroids (leiomyomas, myomas) from the uterus. Patients can have a single or numerous fibroids. Myomectomy treatment for fibroids preserves the uterus. It is most often recommended to women who desire future pregnancy or wishes to retain her uterus. A patient undergoing the myomectomy procedure should be informed regarding the risk of hysterectomy. This may be necessary if excessive bleeding occurs, or if it is not possible to reconstruct the uterus because of the many defects left by the removal of multiple small fibroids or a single large fibroid.
Uterine Fibroids
It is an abnormal growth of cells in the muscle layer (myometrium) of the uterus. Uterine fibroids are common and usually benign (not cancerous). Fibroids range in size from very tiny to the size of an orange or larger.
INCIDENCE
Uterine fibroids are the most common pelvic growth in women. The actual incidence among all women is unknown but generally cited as 20 to 25 % in the general population and is highest between age 35 to 45 years old.
TYPES (based on location in the uterus)
- Subserous which appear on the outside of the uterus.
- Intramural, which is confined to the wall of the uterus.
- Submucous which appears inside the uterus.
- Pedunculated fibroids, which are attached to the uterine wall by stalks.
- Broad ligament type which grows to the side of the uterus
- Cervical type, which is rare.
Adenomyosis
Definition
Adenomyosis is a benign uterine disease in which endometrial tissues (glands and stroma) are found within the myometrium (wall of the uterus). It has been described as endometriosis interna. In a normal menstrual cycle, the endometrial tissue will grow, becomes thicken, and then shed, resulting in the expected cyclical or monthly menstrual bleeding. If this happens in the uterine wall (myometrium), the resulting bleeding in the wall will cause pain and in the long term, the uterine wall will progressive thicken, thus produces a diffusely enlarged uterus.
Emergency Contraception
New Strait Times online recently reported that Malaysia is expected to have a baby boom in January next year, thanks to the Movement Control Order (MCO). The newspaper quoted the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) Health Unit head Dr Hamizah Mohd Hassan who said that the MCO could influx the country’s birth rate by early next year as the majority of married couples have to stay at home.