Myoma – benign tumors of the uterus
Myoma are benign tumors of the muscular layer of the uterus and are hormone-dependent. They usually develop between the ages of 30 and 50. The reason for the occurence is not known, but a family predisposition is very common. In most cases, myoma do not cause symptoms, but are incidental findings observed using ultrasound as part of an annual check-up or examination in the event of complaints. Depending on the size and location of the myoma in the uterus, these tumors can cause a wide variety of complaints. Heavy menstrual bleeding is often described, which can cause a blood anaemia and necessitate an iron infusion. Pain in the lower abdomen, pressure problems in the direction of the bladder with frequent urination or in the direction of the bowel with constipation can occur. Myomata often cause the unfulfillment of the desire to have children.
We only recommend treatment of the myomata if the patient’s quality of life is impaired. The therapy can be medical as well as surgical and is individually adapted to the patient’s complaints.
Medical therapy can alleviate the symptoms, but unfortunately it is often limited in time. Alternative therapy is often necessary, such as non-surgical intervention using myoma embolization. A radiologist uses a catheter to inject small plastic particles into blood vessels, which supply the myomata with blood. Reduced blood flow causes the myoma to shrink. However, this method is not recommended if you still want to have children.
An innovative, novel treatment method is Sonata. During the Sonata treatment, the individual myoma are located with the help of an ultrasound treatment device inserted through the vagina and are shrunk using radio frequency energy (heat) and symptoms are reduced. The great advantage of this treatment method is that the patients hardly experience any pain after the procedure, and there are no scars or large wounds on the uterus. There is not a lot of data on women who still want to have children, but there are now reports from patients who have given birth to children.
In the case of very large myoma or a large number of myoma in the uterus, it may also be necessary to either selectively remove the myoma or to remove the uterus by means of a laparoscopy, abdominal incision or vaginally.
We would be happy to advise you individually in our clinic about your treatment options.
