Fibroid not spiritual problem or death sentence – Gynaecologist

An Australian-based Nigerian gynaecologist, Uche Menakaya, has urged women to jettison the belief that fibroid is a spiritual problem or death sentence.

Mr Menakaya said this while speaking with reporters on the sideline of the ongoing “Coastal/Junic Gynaecologic Ultrasound Training Programme” in Warri.

He described fibroid as a denied growth of the muscles of the uterus, which could sometimes be caused by hormonal imbalance in women.

The Australian trained specialist said the complication was more prevalent in the African-American clime, noting that not all fibroids are problematic.

“Fibroid is very common in our population. My advice is that no spirit thing is attached to it. It is just an imbalance of hormones. It can be managed and not a death sentence.

“What the women need to do is to get their ultrasound scan done to see if they have fibroid or not.

“If they have, know where they are, the size and choose a system of monitoring it, over time.

“If it is getting too big, the doctor can offer treatment options to manage it before it gets so big,” he said.

Mr Menakaya said most fibroid patients could conceive a child, except when complications from surgery affected the line of the uterus where conception takes place.

He advised patients to always do a rescanning after their surgery had been concluded.

Speaking on the training programme, Mr Menakaya said the goal was to build the capacity of women’s health specialists with the required skill to provide ultrasound services at the point of care for patients.

“I have had the experience in providing ultrasound services at the point of care for women and with that, I want to contribute those skills to my colleagues in Nigeria.

“Before I moved to Australia, I was in Nigeria and I have had experience back here in Nigeria and out there. I know what is lacking here and what we can do to improve on it.

“One of the key advantages of this training is that patients will have less visits to doctors. They will have the diagnosis and treatment options of their problem made at the first visit.

“In Nigeria, healthcare is a problem, therefore, reducing the frequency of your visit will also help to reduce the cost of healthcare.

“To the patient’s perspective, it is to their advantage and to the doctors. It will help them (doctors) to streamline the workload as well rather than bringing the patient back over and over again.

“Doing everything in one visit can help them streamline their workload. It will also help them to improve the way they counsel the patients appropriately.