Over the years, uterine fibroid has remained a major gynecological problem in Nigeria. Most of the incidents are presented or the women seek treatment only when they have crossed the age of forty, and the fibroid have grown in size or associated with complications. Due to misconceptions and fear associated with fibroid treatment, Nigerian women delay treatment or care. However, procedures like myomectomy, which keeps the uterus intact and effectively treats fibroid.

Uterine fibroid – symptoms and treatment
Fibroid are unnatural growths found in or on the uterus of a female. These tumors sometimes become very large, causing severe abdominal pain and heavy periods. These do not cause any signs or symptoms at all in many cases. Typically, the growths are benign or non-cancerous.
The clinical symptoms and signs of uterine fibroid vary with less than 50 per cent being asymptomatic, one-third having abnormal uterine bleeding, and another one-third having pelvic pain that is usually acute, the sequel to degenerative changes, torsion hemorrhage, or infection. Other clinical characteristics include swelling of the abdomen, pelvic pressure, urinary frequency, symptoms of the compressive intestine and sub-fertility.
Traditionally, medication, surgery, myolysis, and embolization of the uterine artery are the treatment options for uterine fibroid. Sometimes, in cases where the fibroid is comparatively large, surgery for fibroid removal may be suggested. Either myomectomy or hysterectomy is recommended depending on women's age and health, and this may be performed by the abdominal or vaginal path.

Myomectomy to treat fibroids
Research data suggest that there is about 80 per cent of occurrences of fibroid in Nigerian women above the age of 25 even if the size of the fibroid is as small as a seed. A majority of these fibroid are asymptomatic, meaning they do not show any outward symptoms characteristic to fibroids.
There is also a recent trend of women delaying childbirth, which has resulted in a rise in the number of women who are in the latter years of reproduction. This has caused an increase in the occurrence of infertility, uterine fibroid and other related complications. As a consequence of this unlikely trend, women are now seeking conservative procedures that will keep their reproductive potential intact. Furthermore, some women see the uterus as the regulator and controller of important physiological functions, a sex organ, a source of energy and vitality, and a way to maintain youthful and attractive.
Women in Nigeria also fear that undergoing a fibroid surgery can be life-threatening and even fatal because there have been a number of such cases in the past.
However, this need to be the case of the present situation. Women can now undergo myomectomy without the risk to life, as it is simple procedure that can effectively treat uterine fibroid and ensure speedy recovery.
New advances in assisted reproductive techniques now also allow women to bear a child in the later reproductive years if the womb remains intact. This has shed light on their chances for fertility. The abdominal myomectomy, therefore, forms the basis of conservative surgical treatment for uterine fibroid. New progressive surgical techniques have evolved with minimally invasive approach including laparoscopic myomectomy, uterine embolization and magnetic resonance-oriented focused ultrasound.
Laparoscopic myomectomy is a minimally invasive process which involves an incision done at or near the belly button through which the surgeon removes the fibroid. Laparoscopic myomectomy can be also done robotically i.e. by employing the use of robots and computerized systems. However, this is not available in Nigeria due to the limitation in infrastructure. But thanks to the initiative by MedicoExperts, minimally invasive laparoscopic myomectomy in Nigeria is now possible. This company is known to successfully organize OPD and surgical camps and also trains the doctors and hospital staff in successfully conducting this procedure.
Laparoscopic myomectomy in Nigeria is a safe procedure with the highest success rate of about 99.9%. Women who have undergone laparoscopic myomectomy vouch for little to no bleeding, speedy recovery and shorter hospital stay. This evolved surgical intervention has also helped put to rest the age-old misconception and fear associated with fibroid surgery.