Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Could Be a Sign of Adenomyosis. The da Vinci Procedure May Help.

Ms. Wu, a 45-year-old woman, has long suffered from adenomyosis. Over the past year, she has experienced extremely heavy menstrual bleeding—so severe that even nighttime maxi pads cannot contain it. Her hemoglobin levels have frequently dropped below 6.0 gm/dL (normal range for women: 12.0–16.0 gm/dL), less than half the healthy level. This severe anemia has necessitated multiple emergency blood transfusions, significantly affecting both her personal life and work.Complicating matters, Ms. Wu has a thrombotic condition that requires long-term anticoagulant therapy, making it difficult to manage her bleeding. Due to the risk of thrombosis, she is unable to use common hormonal medications. Her uterus, enlarged by adenomyosis, had grown to the size of a 20-week pregnancy (approximately 20–22 cm, compared to the normal size of about 7 cm). Faced with the triple challenges of “difficulty in surgical treatment due to uterine enlargement, high bleeding risk, and limited medical options,” Ms. Wu felt helpless.Adenomyosis is a common gynecological condition affecting approximately 20% to 35% of women. It is primarily caused by endometrial tissue invading the myometrium. Common symptoms include severe menstrual cramps, heavy bleeding, prolonged periods, and uterine enlargement. In severe cases, blood transfusions may be necessary to stabilize anemia.Dr. Chen Jialin of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Kuang Tien General Hospital notes that many patients delay seeking medical attention, mistakenly believing they are only experiencing menstrual cramps or anemia. Others confuse the uterine enlargement caused by adenomyosis with uterine fibroids, which are more common and often lead to misdiagnosis. The symptoms of adenomyosis typically worsen with age and require long-term, comprehensive treatment.Clinically, treatment options for adenomyosis fall into three main categories: medication (hormonal therapy or symptomatic relief), non-invasive or minimally invasive procedures (e.g., HIFU, microwave ablation), and surgery (e.g., traditional laparotomy or minimally invasive surgery). However, for Ms. Wu—who suffers from a thrombotic disorder, requires long-term anticoagulants, experiences heavy bleeding, and has a uterus enlarged beyond 20 cm—medication is not viable, and non-invasive treatments are insufficient. Traditional surgery also poses significant risks due to potential thrombotic complications from excessive bleeding and postoperative immobility. After thorough consultation, the medical team opted for a hysterectomy using the da Vinci minimally invasive procedure.Thanks to its combination of 3D high-definition vision and a flexible robotic arm, the da Vinci system enables precise identification and removal of lesions while minimizing damage to surrounding organs and blood vessels. Even with an enlarged uterus, tissue structures can be clearly visualized, greatly enhancing surgical safety. Compared to conventional surgeries, the da Vinci procedure offers smaller incisions, minimal bleeding, and a significantly faster recovery. Dr. Chen Jialin reports that most patients are discharged within 3 to 5 days and can resume daily activities in about two weeks. The risk of infection and complications is also relatively low. For high-risk patients like Ms. Wu, the minimally invasive nature of the da Vinci procedure is especially beneficial.Dr. Chen Jialin emphasizes that frequent heavy menstrual bleeding, increased menstrual pain, prolonged periods, or symptoms like dizziness and fatigue due to anemia may be warning signs of adenomyosis. These symptoms should never be ignored or endured in silence. Prompt medical evaluation is essential to determine the most appropriate treatment. Although adenomyosis can affect women of any age, advances in modern technology now allow many high-risk patients to receive safer and more effective care.

Exiled from Japan Due to Body Odor: A Career Dream Shattered by “Incompatible Scents”

“I wasn’t lazy—it was a ‘smell’ I didn’t even notice that ended my career in Japan.” Ms. Lin, 28, from Kaohsiung, is attractive and high-performing. She was well-regarded at a Japanese company in Taiwan and earned an overseas assignment in Japan. However, she faced a major setback when colleagues discreetly told her supervisor, “She has a strange odor that makes clients uncomfortable.” Though the feedback was tactful, it led to her return to Taiwan in disappointment.Back home, she initially suspected stress or poor hygiene caused the odor and tried various deodorants and body sprays, but the invisible pressure persisted. Eventually, she visited Dr. Wu Wen-Hong at Kuang Tien General Hospital’s plastic surgery department. After a detailed consultation and examination, she was diagnosed with bromhidrosis caused by abnormal apocrine gland secretion—not just in the armpits, but also in intimate areas.Diagnosis of bromhidrosis relies on medical history, odor assessment, and site observation. It involves physical examination and odor intensity evaluation to determine if the smell originates from apocrine glands. No blood tests or imaging are needed, but diagnosis must be made by an experienced specialist.Dr. Wu explained that Ms. Lin had a rare case of “multi-site bromhidrosis,” and he arranged a “mini water-jet bromhidrosis surgery” targeting the armpits, perineum, and breast area. Though the procedure seems simple, it requires precise scraping of subcutaneous apocrine glands through tiny incisions, avoiding nerves and blood vessels while preserving adequate blood flow. Otherwise, skin necrosis or residual odor may occur. The perineum and areola areas are especially challenging due to tight space and dense vascular and nerve networks, requiring extreme caution to reduce infection and hematoma risks. Ms. Lin recovered well and regained confidence in social interactions.According to Dr. Wu’s statistics from nearly 700 bromhidrosis surgeries:• 88% involved the armpits• 9% the perineum• 3% the breast areaInterestingly, many women are unaware of abnormal odors in intimate areas—most are alerted by their partners. Clinically, many patients initially mistake the issue for vaginal infections and seek gynecological treatment, only to find no relief until referred to plastic surgery.“Many people confuse sweat odor with bromhidrosis,” Dr. Wu explained. Sweat odor is caused by excessive secretion from eccrine glands, while bromhidrosis stems from apocrine glands secreting oily yellowish fluid. Bathing or perfume usually doesn’t help. If persistent odor is accompanied by stickiness or clothing stains, bromhidrosis should be considered and professional consultation sought early.Though not a serious illness, bromhidrosis often causes psychological distress and social anxiety. With advances in medical technology and public awareness, more people are opting for surgery to reclaim their comfort. Dr. Wu encourages both men and women to seek help bravely if troubled by odor issues—don’t let scent become an invisible barrier in life.Book a Plastic Surgery Consultation Now. Say Goodbye to Persistent Odor.

車禍後靠「客製處方」擺脫拐杖 運動醫學助他重返球場

▲運動醫學中心的物理治療師賴冠帆表示，運動醫學中心不止看運動傷害，更著重於患者受傷後的活動力恢復29歲的李小姐二個月前在上班途中發生車禍，造成膝部副韌帶受傷、十字韌帶鬆脫、半月板撕裂傷等傷害，使她必需以手杖輔助行走，由於當時急診時被送往沙鹿光田綜合醫院，因此後續也在光田接受治療，在中醫復健科的轉介，以及骨科治療建議下，她找上「運動醫學中心」做復能診療，目前的她已擺脫手杖回復正常生活。物理治療師賴冠帆表示，「運動醫學中心」除了看與運動相關的傷，更著重提升患者的骨骼肌肉功能，讓患者在受傷後，盡快回到正常生活，甚至能開始運動，才是運醫中心的最主要目的。李小姐表示，車禍後她雖無手術必要，卻因十字韌帶傷害不可逆，需要提升大腿肌群力量，才能好好保護膝蓋的穩定，故在運動醫學中心開始「以運動為處方」，進行復能訓練，目前的她在經過二個月的訓練後，已能開始保守地運動，讓她重拾熱愛的羽球運動，離恢復又更近一步。同時，她也感謝自己在光田就醫時，無論復健科或中醫科，都積極給予治療建議，像十字韌帶的鬆脫並不易檢查出來，往往都是患者因激烈運動引起傷害後才有感，而她在各科醫師的提醒下早一步發現，避免了後續嚴重傷害的可能。賴冠帆治療師表示，不少人聽到「運動醫學中心」，都直覺以為是看運動傷害，尤其8月奧運剛結束，大家受到賽事影響，紛紛也好奇起運動員背後的照護團隊，賴冠帆治療師解釋，為運動員治療運動傷害，提升體適能各項表現，的確也是運動醫學的任務之一，不過對光田的運動醫學中心來說，更重要的還是在於對一般民眾在骨骼肌肉上的照顧，這才是主要任務。賴冠帆治療師以李小姐為例說明，她在轉至運動醫學中心後，中心會整合骨科診療、復健課程，再搭配物理治療，此外也會教導李小姐做運動處方上的肌力訓練，強化腿部肌力，穩定膝關節，讓她能盡快重拾最愛的羽球。除此之外，賴冠帆治療師也提到，過去針對骨科、神經外科等外科的手術患者，常面臨術後復能的問題，像不少患者在接受膝關節手術後，雖然手術成功，但肌力卻因之前膝關節不適，而嚴重喪失，此時就要藉由各種運動，來提升患者的肌耐力，進一步保護患者的膝關節，讓他們能正常地行走坐臥，重拾日常生活。而光田運動醫學中心主任陳彥志醫師也認為，運動醫學中心的宗旨，在於『以人為本』的整合治療，讓「運動」成為治療的一部分，讓病人能夠主動參與。年底向上院區開幕後，這所全方位的運動醫學中心，將結合微創手術、導引注射、物理治療、動作評估及訓練，屆時各種器材也會相繼進駐，如「3D攝影結合AI的動作姿勢分析儀」提供精準體態、骨骼結構分析；「無線式肌肉電刺激儀」促進肌肉收縮，增強肌肉運動力，此外亦有各種動作訓練設備︰如Redcord紅繩懸吊系統、史密斯訓練機、飛鳥機、運動腳踏車等，期待能藉由運動醫學中心的成立，能更進一步提升民眾的骨骼肌肉健康。