​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients may experience a feeling of heaviness in the pelvis, tissue protrusion from a sensitive area, urinary and bowel dysfunction, and lower back pain. More symptoms include lower abdominal pain, pelvic pain, quickly feeling full when eating, weight loss, discomfort in the pelvis area, changes in bowel habits, such as constipation, a frequent need to urinate, abdominal, pelvic, or lower back pain that can be severe, episodic, or constant, abdominal pressure, abdominal swelling, distension or bloating, heavy bleeding.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

Patients may experience intermittent pain in the abdomen and bleeding. If the pain becomes debilitating and chronic, patients may be unable to participate in daily life. It may be difficult for women to care for their families, complete day-to-day tasks, and work.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

Because of the sensitive nature of gynecological conditions, patients may delay seeking care. Many patients do not have the means to travel or pay for surgery or are not able to take time away from their family and work to seek treatment.

What does the treatment process look like?

The patient undergoes blood testing and an ultrasound scan to confirm the diagnosis. If the patient does not have any other medical conditions, surgery can be performed quickly. If the patient has another health condition, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, its symptoms must be managed before surgery. A patient usually spends about 4-5 days in the hospital.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

This treatment can completely change a patient’s life. After the surgery, the patient will see her condition and symptoms improve. Pain, fatigue, menstruation abnormalities, and urinary dysfunction will be alleviated.

What potential side effects or risks come with this treatment?

Side effects can include fever, infection, heavy bleeding during or after surgery, injury to the urinary tract or nearby organs, blood clots, problems related to anesthesia, and death.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

This type of treatment is available only in the cities in Burma and patients cannot access care because of the high cost of surgery.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

There are not many alternatives, especially for women who are older. Doctors will suggest this treatment to reduce the chance of recurrence of masses/cysts/myoma. Some women opt to treat the symptoms with pain medicine or traditional medicine. Ultimately, however, mass removal or a hysterectomy are the only options to resolve the condition and improve the symptoms.