“Uterus” is a very important organ in the female reproductive system. However, it has been found that currently, over 70,000 Thai women aged 40 and above undergo treatment and hysterectomy each year. In fact… just knowing how to adjust the behaviors that cause the risk can help avoid abnormal uterine conditions!
4 Key Factors… Just Adjust to Reduce the Risk of Abnormal Uterus
- Stress – One of the major enemies that deteriorate the body’s health. When anxiety increases, it affects the pituitary gland, which is responsible for secreting hormones to regulate the ovaries to ovulate regularly every month. This stops, causing irregular, missed, delayed, heavy, or abnormally light menstruation.
- Diet – Because some types of food contain a large amount of estrogen hormones. Eating these foods frequently and regularly can lead to accumulation and increase the risk of abnormal uterine conditions. Especially women who love to eat sweets or desserts excessively may increase the risk of cysts in the uterus or ovaries.
- Being Overweight or Underweight – Having a body that is either too overweight or too thin is a factor that affects the secretion of hormones responsible for regulating ovarian function. People in this group often have irregular menstruation or abnormal bleeding.
- Sexual Activity – Having sexual intercourse that risks infection, or frequently changing partners, increases the chance of contracting infections that can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease.
Besides negative behaviors that harm the uterus, internal system malfunctions are another important unavoidable factor, such as thyroid gland disorders, which cause abnormal hormone production that controls ovarian function, resulting in incomplete conditions of the ovaries and uterus.
Check Your Symptoms? Are You at Risk of Abnormal Uterus?
Many women are unaware that abnormalities are occurring in their uterus because they often do not pay enough attention. The following symptoms are warning signs of abnormal uterine conditions for all women to self-check as follows…
- Menstrual cramps more severe than usual and menstruation appears dark black or with blood clots because there is residue inside the uterus. The uterus tries to contract to expel the waste, causing more severe cramps than usual.
- Irregular menstruation – sometimes heavy, sometimes light, or delayed, sometimes absent for 2-3 months because estrogen and progesterone hormones are not functioning properly.
- Having vaginal discharge throughout the month – Normally, women have vaginal discharge about 2-3 days before menstruation and it returns to normal after menstruation ends. Continuous discharge indicates an abnormal condition.
- Vaginal odor and easy infection – Due to waste accumulation inside the uterus, the odor persists even with good vaginal hygiene.
- Vaginal looseness – This happens because the uterus tries to expel the residue, causing the vagina to expand to assist the uterus.
- Vaginal dryness – Due to lack of estrogen hormone that helps increase vaginal moisture.
- Urinary incontinence – Due to weakened sphincter or inability to hold urine, unable to strain because the uterus has descended and presses on the urethra, causing frequent urination. This symptom indicates severe uterine abnormality.
- Uterine prolapse – Pain during sexual intercourse because the uterus is directly impacted by the male genitalia, causing inflammation.
- Infertility – High risk of miscarriage after conception.
Before “Hysterectomy,” Understand the Different Surgical Methods
- Open abdominal hysterectomy is the traditional method and generally considered the standard surgical approach.
Advantages: The doctor can make a long incision and extend it as needed, allowing clear visibility of the internal organs. Usually, multiple surgeons are involved, making the surgery faster.
Disadvantages: Because the incision is very large, patients feel significant pain and have a higher risk of infection and wound dehiscence.
- Laparoscopic hysterectomy through the abdomen, where the doctor makes about 3-4 small incisions, each about 3-10 millimeters.
Advantages: Patients experience less pain, less blood loss, and faster recovery compared to open abdominal surgery.
Disadvantages: Small scars after surgery may cause patients to worry about the cosmetic appearance of the abdomen.
- Single-port laparoscopic hysterectomy through the navel, also called single-incision laparoscopic surgery, where the doctor hides the incision in the navel.
Advantages: The incision is very small, about 1.5-2 millimeters, and once healed, the scar is invisible.
Disadvantages: Due to the narrow surgical field, it is not suitable for cases requiring high precision.
- Vaginal laparoscopic hysterectomy, where the doctor inserts the laparoscope through the vagina, resulting in no visible scars.
Advantages: This surgery is not only scarless but also allows quick recovery. Patients can walk within 1 day and experience no pain, only slight discomfort.
Disadvantages: Because the laparoscope is inserted from a narrow lower angle, visibility of upper organs is limited, requiring highly skilled surgeons.
Considerations… Before Deciding on Laparoscopic Surgery
Most patients worry about incision size, postoperative pain, and recovery time, making laparoscopic surgery an attractive option. However, due to certain limitations, this method is not suitable for all patients. Doctors will consider the following…
- Whether the patient has underlying diseases that increase surgical risk, such as heart disease, ischemic heart disease, or lung disease.
- Gynecological conditions of the patient, such as the size of the mass compared to pregnancy not exceeding 16 weeks, because larger masses increase surgery time and risk of air embolism.
- Presence of abdominal adhesions or cancer risk, because if cancer cells are present, they may spread. Open abdominal surgery is preferred in such cases.
Don’t Want to Undergo Hysterectomy? Take Care of Your Uterus by Adjusting Your Behavior
- Keep a cheerful and happy mind… stop accumulating “stress.”
- Avoid sweet foods, desserts, salty foods, and fermented foods; focus on eating vegetables and fruits.
- Avoid promiscuity because infections are the root cause of severe inflammation.
- Always pay attention to cleanliness during sexual intercourse.
- Maintain good hygiene when using public restrooms, as they are another source of infection.
- Avoid lifting heavy objects as it may cause uterine prolapse.
- Exercise along with pelvic floor muscle training by contracting and holding for about 5 seconds, then slowly relaxing. Repeat continuously 20-30 times.
In hysterectomy, not only physical safety must be considered, but doctors must also pay attention to the patient’s mental health, such as clearly explaining the disease and surgical methods to the patient. The doctor’s expertise is also crucial to help patients feel reassured and reduce anxiety about the surgery!!
