Myomas

Since myomas hardly ever occur before puberty or after menopause, there is reason to believe that their growth is correlated with female hormone levels. Above all, oestrogen plays an important role. Moreover, other risk factors are known: hereditary components, being overweight, childlessness. Mother-daughter conflicts, unfulfilled dreams in life and unexpressed creativity are also considered to be connected to myomas.

Myomas that are directly located under the mucous membrane (submucous) as well as myomas in the muscle layer (intramural) cause intensified, prolonged or more painful menstrual bleeding. Myomas which grow on the outside directly underneath the outer layer of the peritoneum (subserous) cause women only little discomfort for a long period of time. Affected women may feel the urge to urinate more frequently or suffer from constipation.
Subserous myomas, which are in some cases hanging from stems like small apples, may cause a dramatic situation when the stems twist and the blood supply of the myomas is interrupted. The woman feels a sudden, severe pain in her abdomen. In this event, surgery is required immediately.

Myomas are often discovered by chance, usually during routine palpation or ultrasound examinations. However, if symptoms are present, myomas may also be their cause (see above).

Myomas which do not cause any discomfort do not require treatment. If anaemia occurs as a consequence of heavy menstrual bleeding, it usually suffices to mitigate the symptoms.
A removal of a myoma is rarely necessary; for instance, only in cases where a woman experiences pain and increased bleeding during menstruation, or when a myoma grows rapidly. If it is evident that myomas are the cause of childlessness, they should be surgically removed. Today’s most common therapies are minimally invasive, i.e. performed using endoscopic procedures such as surgical laparoscopy or hysteroscopy.