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Fibroids Can be Treated Without Damage to Organs

DUBAI - Incidence of fibroids - non-cancerous tumours - has increased among women in the UAE owing to genetic predilection and lifestyle changes, but can be treated without damage to organs, say experts.

Around 20 per cent of women have fibroids, a non-malignant tumour in a woman’s uterus, and though they cannot be directly associated to a single cause, it is linked to the genes, said Dr Neeta Warty, visiting Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Laparoscopic Surgeon at the Zulekha Hospital in Dubai.

“Recent studies have shown that a blood relation with someone who has suffered from fibroids increases a woman’s chances of acquiring it. We also know that hormones called estrogen feed the fibroids and once a lady reaches her child bearing age she could be at a risk,” said the specialist.

Dr Warty, last month extracted a fibroid weighing 4kgs and 27cms in Dubai, a record size, breaking the previous world record of 3.4kgs registered in her name. “A normal uterus is only 70gms and the tumour had been growing from the last four years in her womb. She waited for so long because she didn’t want to get her uterus removed and that was the option the doctors were giving her,” said Warty. The surgery became essential as the tumour was touching her ribcage.

The patient, a 30-year-old British national living in Dubai, took a day to recover and was left with no side effects. “She is now in the UK, and after routine exercise will regain the elasticity of her stomach as well,” added Warty.

In the last few years, the number of cases of uterine fibroid has seen a rise with many individuals seeking specialised treatment at hospitals in Dubai.

“On an average, in a span of my two day visit, I treat 18 fibroid cases, which are successfully removed through the non-invasive laparoscopic procedure,” she said.

Many women fear the loss of the uterus during the removal of fibroids which could be emotionally devastating.

“Women do not want to lose the ability to conceive and often worry that they will have to get their uterus removed in this situation. However, laparoscopic removal of the fibroid can now be done without the removal of the uterus.”

With a small incision of 5mm, the entire procedure is done without touching the organs physically but by viewing through a camera and using instruments.

afshan@khaleejtimes.com