Fibroid removal accounts for 30 per cent of operations in city hospitals

Every other operation in the city is related to the removal of fibroids in women. Though not life threatening, fibroids cause a lot of discomfort. Women complain of heavy prolonged bleeding during menstrual cycles and of anaemia and bear pain. In most cases it is an accidental finding.

Many women go to a medical practitioner only when they have pain, in some cases the fibroids remain and grow inside the body without causing pain. However, due to sedentary lifestyle and dietary habits, there are a growing number of women complaining of fibroids.

Dr Madhavi, gynecologist, Shreyas Hospital says, “There is a quantum leap of patients suffering from fibroids in the last three to four years. Every second woman has fibroids in varying sizes.”In a recent operation conducted on Wednesday a team of doctors under the supervision of Dr Manjula Anagani, gynaecologist, Maxcure Hospitals successfully removed 84 fibroids weighing 4 kg, with the largest weighing 1.7 kg from a 33-year-old woman.

Dr J V Reddy, superintendent and Head of the Department of Gynecology, Gandhi Hospital says, “Removal of fibroids account for 20-30 per cent of the operations at Gandhi Hospital. If it does not cause pain it is harmless, but even a mustard seed sized fibroid at times can cause excessive bleeding.”

While fibroids are not cancerous, with chances of one in one lakh, women often come to know about the problem when they visit a doctor. According to gynaecologists, about 70-80 per cent of women suffer from fibroids by the age of 50.
Fibroids are made of muscle cells and other tissues that grow within and around the wall of the uterus.

The exact cause is not known but the growth is linked to hormone estrogen. Dr Manjula Anagani, gynecologist, Maxcure Hospitals says, “Hormone imbalance, dietary habits, increasing estrogen content, childhood obesity, fat releasing estrogen and genetic reasons are attributed to fibroids.”

Fibroids are not life threatening but cause a lot of inconvenience and hardship to women, a small group of fibroids may not allow pregnancy; some fibroids can interfere with the growth of the developing embryo and lead to miscarriage.On an average even midsized hospitals conduct 10-15 operations and the number can go up to 50-70 operations in corporate hospitals.

According to estimates close to 20-30 per cent of operations in hospitals are attributed to fibroid. The cost of operations is between Rs 70,000 to Rs 1.5 lakh depending on the gravity of the problem. Dr Manjula says, “The cost varies based on the severity of the problem, nature of the hospital and other factors.”

Open surgery costs between Rs 50,000 – Rs 75,000, laparoscopy Rs 1.5 –Rs 1.75 lakh and the minimally invasive surgery where a small hole of 4-5 cm is made, which will result in just a scar.

How fibroids impact normal life

• Fibroids cause heavy bleeding during menstrual cycles
• Large fibroid causes pelvic discomfort and acute pain
• Fibroids grow and may push the bladder and it cannot fill properly leading to urinary problems
• A group of fibroids may not allow pregnancy
• Fibroids cause miscarriage

Cost of operation
Open surgery Rs 50,000 – Rs 75,000
Laparoscopy Rs 1.5 –Rs 1.75 lakh
Minimally invasive surgery Rs 50,000 – Rs 75,000