OPEN MYOMECTOMY
Essentially, an open myomectomy is a type of surgical procedure that is primarily focused on having fibroids from within the uterus removed Fibroids are benign tumors that grow in the muscles of the uterine wall and, in most cases, will have no significant effect on a woman’s lifestyle nor are they likely to cause any symptoms to develop. However, in a few cases, they are known to be a very significant cause of miscarriages. Some of the symptoms to look out for when trying to identify if the fibroids have a detrimental effect on your body include severe bleeding during menstruation and pain in the pelvic region. Some of the other symptoms that you should keep an eye out for include pain in the pelvic region as well as substantial tiredness as a result of significant blood loss.An open myomectomy is considered to be a very serious procedure and this is conducted mainly in an effort to have the fibroids removed.The open myomectomy procedure requires the presiding surgeon to make an incision in the lower abdomen, known as a ‘bikini cut’ in order to have the fibroids removed.
Once the fibroids have been removed, the uterine muscle is then sewn back up by the doctor. The procedure has to be conducted in a proper medical setting and the patient is sedated so that the procedure could be conducted without any hitches. Blood loss is a very common and also a very serious concern during an open myomectomy surgery. In some cases, blood transfusion may be an absolute necessity in order to stabilize the patient; this would however be taken care of by the presiding doctor.
ABDOMINAL HYSTERECTOMY
An Abdominal hysterectomy (AH) is surgery to take out your uterus (womb). The uterus is the reproductive organ in a woman’s body where a baby grows during pregnancy. Your reproductive organs work together to help you have a baby. Your cervix is the narrow part of your uterus that is next to or above your vagina. During an AH, your uterus is removed through an incision (cut) in your lower abdomen (stomach). Other reproductive organs may be removed depending on the type of surgery you are having. After your uterus is removed, you will not be able to have a baby. You may need an Abdominal Hysterectomy if you have a tumor (growth) in your uterus or other reproductive organs. You may need an AH if you have an infection in your uterus, or to treat very bad pain caused by a disease called endometriosis. You may need to have an AH if you have problems with your menses (a woman’s monthly period). You may need an urgent abdominal hysterectomy if you cannot stop bleeding right after you have a baby. After an abdominal hysterectomy, problems such as pain and bleeding may decrease or stop
OVARIAN CYST
Ovarian cysts are solid or fluid-filled pockets in or on your ovary. They’re common, especially in women who are pregnant or who haven’t gone through menopause yet. Most of the time, they’re painless and harmless. You might get one every month as part of your menstrual cycle and never know it. They usually go away on their own without treatment. A cyst becomes a problem when it doesn’t go away or gets bigger. It can become painful. There’s also the possibility of cancer, but it’s rare. The chances go up as you get older Ovarian Cyst Symptoms Most ovarian cysts are small and don’t cause any problems. When there are symptoms, you might have pressure, bloating, swelling, or pain in one side of your lower belly. This pain may be sharp or dull, and it can come and go
Sometimes, a cyst needs emergency attention. See your doctor right away if you have:
- Sudden, severe belly pain
- Pain with fever and throwing up
- Dizziness, weakness, or feeling faint
- Fast breathing.
These things could mean your cyst has caused the ovary to twist
ECTOPIC PREGNANCY
Ectopic pregnancy, also called extrauterine pregnancy, is when a fertilized egg grows outside a woman’s uterus, somewhere else in their belly. It can cause life-threatening bleeding and needs medical care right away. In more than 90% of cases, the egg implants in a fallopian tube. This is called a tubal pregnancy. Most of the time, an ectopic pregnancy happens within the first few weeks of pregnancy. You might not even know that you're pregnant and may not notice any problems.
Early signs of an ectopic pregnancy include:
- Light vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain
- Upset stomach and vomiting
- Sharp abdominal cramps
- Pain on one side of your body
- Dizziness or weakness
- Pain in your shoulder, neck, or rectum
- An ectopic pregnancy can cause your fallopian tube to burst or rupture
FIBROIDS
Uterine fibroids, also known as leiomyomas are non-cancerous growths in the muscle of the uterus/womb. They may cause your periods to be heavy and to be painful. They can also cause pain during sex as well as constant lower back pain. They can interfere with your ability to have a child depending on where they are located. They can be located in many places and depending on where they are located determines what options your doctor may offer to treat them
TYPES OF FIBROIDS
Uterine fibroids
They are often described based upon their location within the uterus.
Subserosal fibroids
They are located beneath the serosa (the lining membrane on the outside of the uterus), it extends beyond the wall of the womb and grow within the outside surface of the uterus tissue layer or may be attached to the outside surface by a pedicle
Submucosal (submucous) fibroids
They are located inside the uterine cavity found in the muscle beneath the inner lining of the uterus wall.
Intramural fibroids
They are the most common type, located within the muscular wall of the uterus/womb.
Pedunculated fibroids
They grow on a stalk of tissue known as a pedicle (like a mushroom), it extends inside or outside of the uterus cavity.
SYMPTOMS OF FIBROIDS
Once a fibroid develops, it can continue to grow until menopause. After menopause, the estrogen levels fall, which makes the fibroid shrink in size gradually. Most fibroids produce no symptoms and are often found during a regular pelvic examination.
When women experience symptoms, the following are most common:
- Painful periods, increase in menstrual bleeding known as menorrhagia, sometimes with blood clots
- Anaemia as a result of increase in menstrual bleeding
- Pressure on the rectum, resulting in constipation
- Pelvic pressure, lower abdominal
- Lower backache or leg pain
- Pain during intercourse, known as dyspareunia
- Pressure on the bladder, which may cause frequent urination
- Pregnancy/labour problems
- Constipation
- Discomfort in the lower abdomen (feeling full) especially in the case of large fibroids
- Infertility issues
- Multiple miscarriages
- If fibroids are large, there may also be weight gain and swelling in the lower abdomen.
FIBROIDS TREATMENT
Fibroids are treated in many ways. They can be treated by medications and by surgery. The removal of fibroids (myomectomy) can be done by laparoscopic surgery where the fibroids are removed through small incisions on the abdomen. Fibroids can also be removed hysteroscopically, where the submucosal fibroids are removed through the vagina without making any incisions on the abdomen.
ENDOMETRIOSIS
Endometriosis is a disorder in which a tissue similar to the tissue that forms the lining of your uterus grows outside of the uterine cavity. The lining of the uterus is called the endometrium Endometriosis occurs when endometrial tissue grows on your ovaries, bowel, and tissues lining your pelvis. It’s unusual for endometrial tissue to spread beyond your pelvic region, but it’s not impossible. Endometrial tissue growing outside of your uterus is known as an endometrial implant The hormonal changes of your menstrual cycle affect the misplaced endometrial tissue, causing the area to become inflamed and painful. This means the tissue will grow, thicken, and break down. Over time, the tissue that has broken down has nowhere to go and becomes trapped in your pelvis. This tissue trapped in your pelvis can cause: irritation, scar formation, adhesions, in which tissue binds your pelvic organs together fertility problems Endometriosis is a common gynecological condition, affecting up to 10% of women. You’re not alone if you have this disorder.
INFERTILITY
In general, this is defined as not being able to get pregnant (conceive) after one year (or longer)
of
unprotected sex.
Because fertility in women is known to decline steadily with age, some providers evaluate and treat
women aged 35 years
or older after 6 months of unprotected sex. Women with these issues should consider making an
appointment with a
reproductive endocrinologist—a doctor who specializes in managing infertility. Reproductive
endocrinologists may also be
able to help women with recurrent pregnancy loss, defined as having two or more spontaneous
miscarriages.
Pregnancy is the result of a process that has many steps.
To get pregnant:
A woman’s body must release an egg from one of her ovariesexternal icon (ovulationexternal icon). A man’s sperm must join with the egg along the way (fertilize). The fertilized egg must go through a fallopian tubeexternal icon toward the uterusexternal icon (womb). The fertilized egg must attach to the inside of the uterus (implantation). Infertility may result from a problem with any or several of these steps Impaired fecundity is a condition related to infertility and refers to women who have difficulty getting pregnant or carrying a pregnancy to term.