If you are looking for a solution to fibroids, you’re not alone. Around 70% of women of European descent are affected by them, and for those of Afro-Caribbean heritage the figure is even higher, up to 90% have fibroids.
Anaemia and fibroids
Complications from fibroids can include painful periods and heavy bleeding along with associated anaemia - smaller fibroids, the submucosal variety are more likely to cause this.
A constant need to empty the bladder, especially at night is a common complaint of women who have fibroids, which, in turn, can obviously cause sleep problems.
If you have fibroids, you might have heard that a hysterectomy is the only solution. Or perhaps you’ve looked into a drug treatment, a strategy which has varying success.
A new technique for fibroid removal
However, new advances mean there is another option for getting rid of troublesome fibroids that is quick, easy and as pain-free as possible.
MyoSure fibroid and polyp removal procedure allows women to go home on the same day, with only a few days recovery time.
The MyoSure myomectomy technique is suitable for submucosal fibroids or endometrial polyps which measure about an inch in circumference.
By gaining access to the fibroid via the vagina, your gynaecologist can use a specially designed surgical instrument to remove the fibroid.
A big advantage of the MyoSure technique is that it is gentle enough not disrupt the other tissue in the uterus, so it shouldn’t interfere with your fertility, should you want to get pregnant in the future. The MyoSure technique takes only ten minutes, and you can leave the clinic that day.
Women who have had fibroids removed by the Myosure technique are very unlikely to suffer complications– according to the clinical data, less than 2% of the procedures have any complications.
This is going to be an enticing prospect for many women who experience symptoms because of fibroids. It’s worth checking that your gynaecologist or clinic offers MyoSure.
Why Myosure is a game-changer
It’s easy to see why women would look for new solutions to fibroids. Women may try drug treatment for fibroids – such as Tranexamic acid, the pill or progesterone medication.
Medication called gonadotropin releasing hormone analogues (GnRHas) may also be used.
These treatments have limited success - and may even cause side-effects. For example, GnRHas are associated with osteoporosis.
Hysterectomy or myomectomy ?
It’s also understandable why many balk at the idea of having their fibroids treated by surgery.
After all, a hysterectomy – when the uterus is removed – is only appropriate when you’re sure you don’t want to have any more children.
It also requires a lot of recovery time – at the very least 2 weeks, but for many women, it’s more like 6 weeks.
Other surgical techniques such as uterine artery embolisation (UAE) also have unpleasant side effects.
During uterine artery embolisation, a radiologist injects particles into the blood vessels to stop the fibroids being supplied with blood. The idea is the fibroids will get smaller.
However, uterine artery embolisation can cause pain for some days after.
Another alternative is laparoscopic myomectomy where a cut is made by the belly button and the surgeon uses instruments to extract the fibroid.
Although this is also a myomectomy technique like MyoSure, it may take up to a week before you’re fully recovered. Those who opt for the MyoSure can go home the same day.
Find out more about MyoSure here.
