Cervical Cancer: Causes, Symptoms, Prevention, and Treatment

Dr Madhushree Vijayakumar, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecology, Motherhood Hospital, Hebbal.

1 . What is cervical cancer and what are some of the major causes?

Cervical cancer is a type of cancer where cells change in womenŸ??s cervix, which connects their uterus with vagina. Causes of cervical cancer is the beginning of unusual changes in the tissue of the cervix. Most cases of cervical cancer are linked to infection with human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is common and for most people there is less chances of virus developing into cancer. This means other factors Ÿ?? such as your lifestyle choices or environment factorsŸ?? also determine whether you’ll develop cervical cancer.

2 . What are some signs and symptoms of cervical cancer to look out for?

There are no symptoms or sign in early stage cervical cancer but for more advanced level cancer spread it includes signs as:

  • Unusual vaginal bleeding after intercourse, between periods or after menopause.
  • Bloody or watery vaginal discharge that may be heavy and have a foul odour.
  • Pelvic pain or pain during sex

3 . How do the symptoms vary in different stages of cervical cancer?

There are 4 stages to cervical cancer:

  • Stage 0: Precancerous cells are present. At this stage there are none or zero symptoms.
  • Stage 1: In this stage cancer cells have grown from the surface into deeper tissues of the cervix, and possibly into the uterus and to nearby lymph nodes. Symptoms at this stage are less.
  • Stage 2: In this stage cancer has now moved beyond the cervix and uterus, but not as far as the walls of the pelvis or the lower part of the vagina. It may or may not affect nearby lymph nodes and have symptoms like pelvic pain during intercourse, vaginal discharge.
  • Stage 3: This is an advanced stage where cancer cells are present in the lower part of the vagina or the walls of the pelvis, and it may be blocking the ureters, the tubes that carry urine from the bladder. It may or may not affect nearby lymph nodes and may have symptoms like trouble peeing, swollen legs and bone pain among with stage 2 symptoms.
  • Stage 4: This is the last stage where cancer affects the bladder or rectum and is growing out of the pelvis. It may or may not affect the lymph nodes. Later in stage 4, it will spread to distant organs, including the liver, bones, lungs, and lymph nodes. Symptoms spreads to whole body resulting in Weight loss and lack of appetite, fatigue, kidney failure, pelvic pain.

4 . How does cervical cancer affect your body?

Generally cervical cancer does not have an opportunity to affect the rest of the body, mainly because it is often diagnosed in its earliest stages. But if not diagnosed at early stage in can spread to other parts of their body (metastasize), often the lungs, liver, bladder, vagina, and rectum.

5 . Who is most at risk of developing cervical cancer?

Risk is a factor that increases the chances of getting a disease to a person and for cervical cancer these factors may raise a woman’s risk of developing one.

  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection- HPV is themost important risk factor, though there are less chances of it developing into cancer but cervical cancer is frequently associated with HPV16, HPV18. People who are infected with high risk of HPV types are people who have sex at an earlier age or have multiple sexual partners.
  • Immune system deficiency- women with low immune systems have higher chances of developing cervical cancer.
  • Herpes and Oral contraceptives- women who have genital herpes and who takes birth control pills, may be associated with an increase in the risk of cervical cancer.
  • Smoking and age- there are more chances for women to develop cervical cancer who smokes twice a daily compared to non-smokers. Women with the age group of above 20 to mid-30Ÿ??s are exposed to this risk more.

6 . Is cervical cancer curable? Can cervical cancer spread quickly?

Cervical cancer is often curable if diagnosed at early stage. For early cervical cancer doctors recommend surgery to remove the cervix and some or all of the womb, or radiotherapy, or a combination of both. For advanced level radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy, and surgery is also sometimes used.

Cervical cancer cells are slow in growth, once cells in the cervix begin to undergo abnormal changes, it can take several years for the cells to grow into invasive cervical cancer. So there are many opportunities for early detection and treatment before the cancer has progressed to later stages.

7 . How do STIs increase your chances of cervical cancer? What is HPV and how does it affect your chances of getting cancer? 

STIŸ??s like HPV increases your chance of cervical cancer. HPV is Human Papillomavirus Infection it is the most important risk factor for cervical cancer. ItŸ??s related to a group of 150 viruses.  Low risk HPV causes warts on or around the female and male genital organs and in the anal area. High risk HPV causes cancers, including cancer of the cervix, vulva, and vagina in women, penile cancer in men, and cancers of the anus, mouth, and throat in both men and women. It is a common virus and in most people the body can clear the infection by itself.

8 . What are some preventive measures that can lower your chances of cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is a slow and deadly disease whose symptoms cannot be predicted at early stages. However some prevention can reduce the risk of cervical cancer such as regular screening or pap smear test to detect and prevent precancers, getting HPV vaccine, delaying first sexual intercourse until late teens or older, limit the number of sex partners and practice safe sex by using condom, avoid sexual intercourse with people who had many sexual partners or are infected with genital warts or show other symptoms, quit smoking.

9 . What are the different treatment options for cervical cancer? How long can each one last?

Cervical cancer if detected at earliest stage can be cured if not then various treatments are prescribed by the doctors for different stages such as surgery if cancer cells has not spread from the cervix, this is the most common treatment. Radiation therapy if doctors feel the cancer cells are present inside the body. In advanced stages radiation and chemotherapy is recommended. In later stages palliative therapy is provided to relieve symptoms and improve the patientŸ??s quality of life and living.

Treatment for cervical cancer is a long process and takes a plenty amount of time of years.

10 . How long does it take to recover from cervical cancer treatments?

After the treatment it takes about 8 weeks for side effects to resolve although in some cases it can be permanent. ThereŸ??s also a possibility that side effects can occur after years or months of treatment.

Pap smear tests: At what age and how often

Explore the importance of pap smear tests for cervical health - Motherhood Hospital India

By Dr Manisha Tomar, Consultant Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Motherhood Hospital, Noida

Being the second most common cancer in women between the age group of 15 and 44 years of age, the awareness towards cervical cancer and its screening are miniscule in our country. Cervical cancer is a completely preventable disease because of its well defined, long pre-malignant phase and it can be detected easily by regular screening tests and follow up. Unfortunately, the females in India are unaware about the screening process for the cervical cancer care. With the vaccination, screening and treatment, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recently aimed to reduce more than 40% of new cases and 5 million related deaths of cervical cancer by 2050.

WhatŸ??s Pap smear test?

ItŸ??s crucial that we should also learn about Pap smear test. ItŸ??s a screening test used to detect potentially pre-cancerous and cancerous processes in the endocervical canal. The doctor takes out a cluster of cells from a personŸ??s cervix using a spatula-like instrument to look for changes in the cervixŸ??s cells. A pap smear helps in diagnosing cellular changes resulting from cancer, precancer, human papillomavirus (HPV), inflammation, or an infection.

At what age one can go for Pap smear?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend, all women who fall between the age group of 21 and 65 years should get their Pap smears tests at regular interval. However, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommend that girls below 21-year-old should be refrained from pap smears. At the same time, they also suggest that women over 65-year-old shouldnŸ??t get a Pap smear except under certain circumstances, such as abnormal results or increased risk factors for cancer.

However, both menopausal and postmenopausal, should continue to have Pap or HPV tests. Women who have had a total hysterectomy for a noncancerous condition and have not had a previous history of precancerous Pap tests may be able to stop Pap screening depending on their medical history and risk of contracting human papilloma virus (HPV).

One should not forget that testing is the best tool to detect pre-cancerous conditions that may lead to cervical cancer. Cervical cancer can be cured if detected on time.

How often one should go for Pap smear based on age?

Here are the following recommended testing schedules based on a personŸ??s age:

  • From 21Ÿ??29 years

The ideal age for having Pap smear is 21-year-old. If the result is negative then the next test would be done after the gap of three years.

  • From 30Ÿ??65 years

In this age, the person can either have a Pap test, or a combined Pap and HPV test after consulting with the doctor. In case of single Pap test, then the doctor would ask to come after three years if the tests are normal. When the person opt for the combined test, and both results are normal, the doctor would ask to wait for 5 years for the next screening test.

If a person is having her periods at the time of their scheduled appointment, they should check with their clinician whether they should go ahead with the test. In most of the cases, the test happens if youŸ??re menstruating.

 Doctors can suggest a person to avoid only the following before a Pap smear:

  • Having sex
  • Douching the vagina
  • Using tampons or vaginal lubrication
  • Vaginal creams, suppositories, or medications
  • Using birth control foam, cream, or jelly

Unawareness and Skipping A Pap Smear Test Can Increase Cervical Cancer Rates

By Dr Manisha Ranjan, Consultant, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Motherhood Hospital, Noida

Cervix of a woman is the mouth of the uterus which is examined through vagina. Cervical cancer occurs when abnormal or pre-cancerous cells start to develop. The human cervix has two parts ectocervix which is of a healthy pink color and is covered in flat thin squamous cells as well as endocervix which is the cervical canal and is made up of columnar cells. The area where endocervix and ectocervix meet is the transformation zone which is the most likely region where abnormal and pre-cancerous cells can develop.

HPV is the leading cause of cervical cancer

The leading cause of cervical cancer is Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible in about 70-80% of cervical cancer cases. There are over 100 different types of HPV which are considered low risk and do not result in cervical cancer. Nonetheless the high-risk cancer types are HPV-16 and HPV-18 and if a woman has persistent HPV infection then she must see a doctor immediately as they are at a greater risk of developing cervical cell abnormalities

Significance of Pap Test

Precancerous cervical cell do not cause any prominent symptoms which is why regular screening through Pap and HPV tests is recommended. They can catch precancerous cells early and prevent the development of cervical cancer.

Look for these signs to know if you have cervical cancer or not

The possible symptoms of advanced cervical cancer are:

  • Abnormal bleeding that includes bleeding between regular menstrual periods, bleeding after sexual intercourse, bleeding after menopause, bleeding after douching and bleeding after a pelvic exam
  • Pelvic pain that is not related to menstrual cycle
  • Unusual or heavy discharge that is watery, thick or foul smelling
  • Pain during urination as well as increased urinary frequency

These symptoms can also be a result of some other condition than cancer so please see your doctor to know what it is.

Risk Factors

  • Women who do these following things are at a higher risk of cervical cancer than others.
  • Girls who started having early sex
  • Take birth control pills for more than 10yrs increases about fourfold chances of cervical cancer only in women who are HPV positive
  • Have a weak immune system
  • Women who are sexually active with more than one partner
  • Women who have been diagnosed with STD’s (Sexually Transmitted Disease)

 

Cervical Cancer Exams and Diagnosis

Papinicolaou test (Pap Smear) is an advanced form of cervical cancer screening which is a part of woman’s regular screening exam. The procedure is as follows as the doctor collects cells from the surface of your cervix and looks at them under the microscope. After this if anything unusual is spotted then they will extract a bit of cervical tissue for biopsy which will help in further examination.

Another method is colposcopy in which the doctor will stain your cervix with a harmless dye or acetic acid to improve visibility of abnormal cells. After that the doctor will use a colposcope to magnify your cervix by 8 to 15 times to look for unusual cells.

One more method is the Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) wherein the doctor uses an electrified loop of wire to take a sample tissue of your cervix for a biopsy  Long standing HPV infection may cause the cells to turn into cancer by forming into a tumor over time. Regular Pap smear will help in early detection of cervical cancer so that it can be diagnosed and treated

The Importance OF Getting Vaccinated for Cervical Cancer

Prioritize health: Cervical cancer vaccination insights - Motherhood Hospital India

Dr Surabhi Siddhartha, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist, Motherhood Hospital Kharghar

Cervical cancer is ranked as the fourth common cancer all over the world. One of the main risk factors of it is the human papilloma virus. This type of cancer originates in females at the entrance to the womb from the vagina, the cervix. Although the condition mostly seen in women after 30 years. Currently, you will be shocked to know even girls at a younger age can get cervical cancer. Thus, cervical cancer will not only occur in the sexually active women belonging to the age group of 30-45 but before that too. The reason behind this can be the increasing number of girls have become sexually active at a younger age.

The human papillloma virus can be transmitted during sexual intercourse from one person to another. But this does not suggest that every sexually active woman will get cervical cancer. Did you know? HPV-16 and HPV-18 are known to cause this cancer while abnormal vaginal bleeding during or after sexual intercourse, pain during intercourse, abnormal vaginal discharge, and pelvic pain are some of the common symptoms of cervical cancer in the advanced stages of the condition. Thus, taking cervical cancer vaccination is the need of the hour, and can save many lives.

Importance of cervical cancer vaccinations

Awareness about cervical cancer is extremely low in India, mainly in rural areas. Women are often shy and do not want to discuss their symptoms openly. Though, the vaccines are available still women are not aware of them. Basically, they are not okay with the idea of taking a vaccination. It is recommended for girls at the age of 9 to make sure that they do not skip the cervical cancer vaccination, and no booster is required. Prevention is possible via HPV vaccination which is routinely advised to girls between 12 and 13 years. The cost of the vaccine is around 3,000 per vaccine, and one will require 3 doses 0, 2- and 6-months Gardasil and Cervarix at 0, 1 and 6 months. Every girl should take a cervical cancer vaccine before she gets sexually active as this can increase her risk of cervical cancer. The benefits of taking vaccination are they act as a shield against cervical cancer by preventing the two strains of HPV like 16 and 18. Many hospitals give vaccination mandatorily after delivery. 

Screening about cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is preventable if it is detected at an early stage. Screening tests for cervical cancer that is a Pap smear and HPV test must be advised in every young woman above 25 years, every 3 years or early if sexually active. 

Awareness regarding cervical cancer

When it comes to awareness regarding cervical cancer in every 10 women only 2 may be aware of it. While speaking about the rural areas, there is a lack of knowledge and education regarding this. This can increase morbidity and mortality as women-only visit the doctors in an advanced stage where saving lives becomes difficult. 

For awareness amongst rural area, annual pap smear camps be conducted. Vaccine charges should be made affordable for rural women by Govt health schemes or at least early detection measures like pap smear camps be organized regularly. Thus, to improve the outcome and efficacy, women should be educated at the primary level regarding the condition (in schools) to create awareness about cervical cancer. They should be taught about the benefits of taking a vaccination and ways to prevent this cancer should be discussed. 

Health for all women be given priority.

Cervical Cancer for Beginners

The number of cases of cervical cancer is increasing rapidly in the country. In 2018, it was the 4th most common cancer among women in India. Even though it cannot be cured, cervical cancer can be treated if diagnosed in time. Therefore, increasing awareness about this disease is crucial to defeating it and stopping it from claiming even more lives.

What is cervical cancer?

A person is said to have cervical cancer when abnormal cells develop in the cervix. The cervix is the lowermost part of the uterus and connects the vagina to the uterus. At times, the abnormal cells can also invade other organs causing cancer to spread to other parts of the body.

What are its symptoms?

The symptoms of cervical cancer include:

  • Abnormal vaginal discharge (be it change in odour, colour, consistency, presence of blood in discharge etc.)
  • Abnormal vaginal bleeding (e.g. bleeding that occurs between periods, bleeding in post-menopausal women, bleeding after sex etc.)
  • Pain in the pelvis

How is it detected?

The most common test used to help in the diagnosis and detection of cervical cancer is the Papanicolaou test (Pap smear). During the test, a doctor/nurse gently inserts a spatula into your vagina to scrape a few cells from your cervix. These cells are then checked under a microscope for any abnormal change or signs of cervical cancer.

?˜If you think your symptoms match those of someone with cervical cancer, then make sure you visit a gynaecologist at the earliest to get an accurate diagnosis and treatment. If you are looking for a gynecologist in Sarjapur Road, Bangalore, then Motherhood Hospital is an ideal choice. The hospital is dedicated to the healthcare of women and children and is considered to have the best gynecologist in Hebbal Bangalore.

Why chose a laparoscopic surgery?

Laparoscopic surgery is an invasive surgery which is also called keyhole surgery. During the laparoscopy procedure, the doctor conducts a small incision to insert a tube. The tube has a light attached to it. The light helps the surgeon to get a better visual inside the operated area.  Laparoscopic surgery gives a denser accuracy about the patient’s illness. Choosing a laparoscopic surgery is less painful than other surgical procedures. 

Aside from accurate assessments, less painful, cost-friendly, Laparoscopic surgery is also a short procedure. Here are the reasons in details to why you should opt for laparoscopic surgery- 

  • It provides an accurate assessment. This is appreciated massively by the doctors because it helps in determining the exact illness of the patient. And also, makes it easier to spot the treatment needed. 
  • The surgery completes in 30 to 60 minutes. However, the timing may slightly be different based on the operated area. It is a short surgery process and highly preferred by many. 
  • Laparoscopic surgery leaves the most minimal scar. In comparison to other major surgeries, laparoscopic surgery is relatively painless. The invasive steps during the operation are minimum, and this results in minimum pain. 
  • To many, cost plays a significant factor in deciding if the procedure will happen. However, laparoscopic surgery is a win in many ways. It is cost-friendly, less painful, and leaves little to no surgery scars. 
  • Laparoscopic surgery is a short surgery which is complete in under an hour. The healing period is also fast due to cuts and leads to less no surgical complications. 

Laparoscopic surgery comes with many advantages. A short surgical process with fast recovery- such operations rid unnecessary post-surgery constraints and enables a rapid return to the regular routine.  

Are you looking to make an appointment with the?˜best laparoscopic surgeon in Sarjapur or for the best laparoscopic surgeon in Hebbal? Motherhood hospitals provide top services with treatments under highly qualified doctors.

Think you are entering menopause? Confirm with these 6 signs

Ÿ??MenopauseŸ?? isnŸ??t a word most women in India smile about and love. They hate entering this inevitable phase of their life. The reluctance though, stems from misunderstanding important biological changes in the body and prevalence of myths such as menopause is a Ÿ??diseaseŸ?? which heralds definitive ill-health.

It is indeed tricky to ascertain if one is entering menopause, especially as it happens only once! Also, symptoms vary for individuals and are accompanied by signs that are often not related to menopause.

If you think your tampon days may be coming to an end, keep reading to find out if you identify with one or more of the below signs.

1. Lighter or heavier periods

Contrary to your usual routine of about a month, the time between periods is now all over the place with varying amount of bleeding and different number of period days.

2. Hot and splotchy skin

You may be entering menopause if you notice hot flashes on your skin, especially the face, neck and chest. Intense, sudden feelings of warmth will often be accompanied by red splotches on the skin. You may also experience flu-like symptoms like heavy sweating or even cold shivering.

3. Waking up to a sweaty you

You don’t experience hot flashes only during the day. They also happen while youŸ??re asleep, causing you to wake up drenched in sweat. You may be entering menopause if this symptom is impacting your sleep quality.

4. Rapid mood swings ruining your time

You are behaving crazy and are not sure what is going on with you! It could be the onset of menopause due to changes in hormones which trigger mood swings characterised by depression and anxiety.

5. You’ve lost your laser-like focus

You may be entering menopause if you are wondering what happened to your focus, attention span and your ability to quickly recollect things. Menopause is accompanied by reduced oestrogen levels which impact the part of the brain used for memories.

6. Increased vaginal and bladder infections

Are you wondering why you’re suddenly having more vaginal and bladder infections? Well, this could be it! As you are probably into menopause, your ovaries have stopped making oestrogen, causing vaginal dryness, loss of elasticity and discomfort or pain during intercourse. All of these are causing vaginal and bladder infections.

If you are experiencing any or a combination of the above symptoms, you may no longer have red days anymore. Please note that it is important to make an appointment with a gynaecologist for you to learn what you can do to feel better and get back to your life. Ÿ??MenopauseŸ?? isnŸ??t a word most women in India smile about and love. They hate entering this inevitable phase of their life. The reluctance though, stems from misunderstanding important biological changes in the body and prevalence of myths such as menopause is a Ÿ??diseaseŸ?? which heralds definitive ill-health.

 

Large Fibroids – Dr Sireesha Reddy

Advanced gynae surgeries for women

Diagnosing the condition early and giving the right treatment can help in alleviating the pain of the affected woman. That is what sets Motherhood Hospital apart Ÿ?? as medical experts who have the know-how and experience to deal effectively with complicated conditions including multiple fibroids, cysts, endometrial cancers, pelvic prolapse and other problems. State-of-the-art technology and medical prowess of the doctors at Motherhood ensure the patients make a speedy recovery.

Dr Sireesha Reddy, Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Motherhood Hospital, Hebbal talks about some of the complex conditions and their advanced gynaecological surgery solutions which are being conducted at the hospital on a regular basis.

?˜Large Fibroids?˜?˜

In most instancesŸ?? fibroids may not pose any major problems or show marked symptoms. But, when they grow large and cause debilitating pain and bleeding, thus interfering with day-to-day activities Ÿ?? it is time to act.

Gynaecological surgery is a good option, yet many women continue to suffer and refuse surgery, as they are scared to go undergo them. That is what happened with 40-year-old Seema (name changed) who was diagnosed with large fibroids.

Ÿ??The patient had heavy bleeding and was extremely anaemic. She was on hormone therapy to regulate her periods and a host of other medications, when she came to us. Even though none of them were working, she was reluctant to have surgery, as she was scared, she would have a huge scar on her abdomen and that she would be bedridden for long. But at Motherhood, we convinced her to undergo a laparoscopic hysterectomy to remove the uterus, as the incisions would be tiny and she would make a quick recovery,Ÿ? informed Dr Sireesha Reddy, who conducted the surgery.

Treatment

Despite the patient having large fibroids, the doctor was able to successfully remove the uterus through the minimally-invasive procedure. In fact, upon removal, the uterus weighed 1.2 kg. The patient was thrilled with the outcome, as the tiny incisions were hardly visible, and the blood loss was also minimal. She did not have to endure much pain and got back to a normal lifestyle shortly.

Vaginal Vault Prolapses – Dr Suhasini

Dr. Suhasini Explains Vaginal Vault Prolapses and Causes and Treatment Options - Motherhood Hospital India

Advanced Gynae Surgeries for Women

Certain gynaecological conditions can make day-to-day life miserable for many women. These specialised procedures give them much-needed relief.

Every year, thousands of women in India are diagnosed with serious gynaecological conditions. Of these, some may seek timely treatment while many may not be aware of the dangers of these problems.

Dr Sireesha Reddy, Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Motherhood Hospital, Hebbal talks about some of the complex conditions and their advanced gynaecological surgery solutions which are being conducted at the hospital on a regular basis.

Vaginal Vault Prolapses

A pelvic prolapse is a condition wherein one of the organs in the pelvic region starts coming down abnormally, causing a lot of discomfort. This could happen because of age-related causes including wear and tear of tissues over time, pregnancy and childbirth or due to congenital factors. When the tissues supporting the top part of the vagina become weak, resulting in that part of the vagina to sag or drop down into the vaginal canal, it is called vaginal vault prolapse. Sometimes, the sagging part of the vaginal wall may even be visible through the vaginal opening. Some women, who have undergone hysterectomy, may experience this condition because of the pelvic support tissues becoming weakened over the years.

Symptoms

  1. Discomfort and pressure in the pelvic region
  2. Back pain
  3. Difficulty in urinating/passing motion
  4. Urinary incontinenceTreatment

Apart from being a birthing centre, Motherhood Hospital is well-equipped and has an envious line-up of medical experts to carry out advanced surgical procedures for complicated gynaecological conditions. This includes minimally-invasive procedures to correct prolapse.

Advanced surgery to repair a vaginal vault prolapse will prevent the sagging and give relief from the symptoms, helping an affected woman lead a normal life without discomfort. We had a 65-year-old woman who came to us with symptoms of pressure and difficulty in passing urine. She had undergone a hysterectomy about 20 years ago. Investigations revealed that she was suffering from a vaginal vault prolapse. We performed a laparoscopic sacrocolposuspension procedure, which gave her much-needed relief from her symptoms, said Dr Sireesha Reddy.

In this minimally-invasive procedure, the surgeon makes tiny incisions on the lower abdomen and the top part of the vagina is connected to the tail bone through a graft. As in all laparoscopic procedures, scarring and blood loss is minimal and the patient makes a quick recovery.

Multiple Fibroids – Dr Suhasini

Multiple fibroids and their treatment options with Dr. Suhasini - Motherhood Hospital India

Safe Surgical Treatment for Every Woman?˜

Women are often so busy looking after the needs of their loved ones and trying to strike a work-life balance that they fail to take care of their health.

Many women may experience setbacks in their reproductive health yet suffer discomfort silently till it becomes unbearable. Dr Suhasini Inamdar, Consultant, Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Motherhood hospitals, Indiranagar talks about a few conditions and the advanced treatment for them and ensures that women get the advantage of a timely diagnosis and effective treatment that includes advanced gynaecological surgeries wherever necessary.

Multiple Fibroids:?˜

Fibroids are benign growths that occur within the uterus and are quite common among women. Uterine fibroids affect around 20-40 per cent of women in their reproductive age.?˜They grow on the wall of the uterus and may be single or in clusters. Most fibroids go undetected as some patients may not show any signs of symptoms.

Symptoms

  1. Vaginal bleeding
  2. Bleeding between periods
  3. Painful periods
  4. Pain and discomfort in the pelvic region
  5. Heaviness and bloating of the lower abdomen
  6. Infertility

In some women, fibroids can interfere with day-to-day functioning as they cause severe pain and bleeding. As a result, the quality of life suffers considerably. In such cases, surgical treatment can help the patient get back to a normal, productive life.

Talking about a challenging case, Dr Suhasini said:

Ÿ??We had a 30-year-old patient who came to us with complaints of severe pain in the abdomen and heavy bleeding. She was anaemic and because of that she was always tired and unable to work to her full potential. Investigations revealed that the patient had multiple fibroids in her uterus. In fact, one of the fibroids was jutting into the lining of the womb, displacing the endometrium.Ÿ?

Treatment

Myomectomy: As the woman was in her reproductive years and wanted to conceive, the main challenge was to remove the fibroids while preserving the uterus. Also, care had to be taken not to damage the fallopian tubes. So, doctors performed myomectomy, a?˜surgery?˜to remove fibroids without taking out the healthy tissue of the uterus. A cut was made in the abdomen and the fibroids were carefully extracted. This procedure is recommended for women who want to get pregnant.

Ÿ??We removed more than 90 fibroids from her uterus, in such a way that there was no scope for infection in future and the tissue was not scarred. As a follow-up we have conducted a hysteroscopy (procedure to investigate the inside of the uterine cavity using a hysteroscope, a pipe-like device with a camera at one end) and the patient is recovering well,Ÿ? added Dr Inamdar.

Another surgical treatment for multiple fibroids is total hysterectomy, where the entire uterus and cervix are removed. This can be performed through the minimally-invasive route as well, even when the fibroids are large.