Myomectomy

Myomectomy is a procedure in which uterine fibroids are surgically removed from the uterus. This procedure saves the uterus and preserves a woman’s fertility and is often the treatment of choice for women who wish future pregnancy.

Myomectomy can be done in different ways. Depending upon the location of the fibroid(s), myomectomy can be done by either an abdominal or vaginal approach.
Myomectomy, with one exception, requires making an incision into the uterus and removing the fibroids. The uterus is then repaired with stitches or clamps. Recovery time differs for each type of myomectomy.

The different ways a myomectomy is done involves the surgical approach to the uterus. The method used depends on the size, location, and number of fibroids. It also depends on your doctor’s professional training and acquired surgical skills.

Abdominal myomectomy requires an abdominal incision. The advantage of this procedure is that there is no limit to the size or number of fibroids that can be removed. This disadvantage is a longer recovery period. More>>

Laparoscopic myomectomy involves making a very small incision in the navel to insert a laparoscope, a thin fiber-optic device that transmits light and a video image, and removing fibroids through small incisions in the abdomen. More>>

Hysteroscopic myomectomy involves the vaginal removal of fibroids with the use of a hysteroscope -- a thin telescope-like instrument that is inserted through the cervix and into the uterus. More>>

Laparoscopic Assisted Vaginal Myomectomy (LAVM) combines laparoscopic myomectomy with a vaginal incision for fibroid removal. More>>

Laparoscopic Myomectomy with Mini-Laparotomy allows for the removal of slightly larger fibroids than what the laparoscope alone can handle and generally includes a relatively small incision of 3 inches or less in the abdomen. More>>

Robot-Assisted Myomectomy, or Robotic Myomectomy, is a minimally invasive procedure that uses laparoscopic myomectomy through small :"keywhole" incisions and reduces patient's recovery time. More>>

Possible complications of any myomectomy include:

• Excessive blood loss
• Injury to the uterus
• Infertility
• Damage to the nearby organs of the urinary system or bowel
• Formation of scar tissue within the uterus
• Infection
• Blood clots
• Eventual re-growth of fibroids

Women who have had fibroids once are often likely to have them again. The likelihood of a recurrence depends on a woman's age, race, and how many of the fibroids were removed during the procedure. While another myomectomy is an option if the fibroid tumors return, multiple myomectomies can lead to additional complications. Unfortunately, many, if not most, of the women who develop additional fibroids eventually have to undergo a hysterectomy.

Click here to see an overview of all uterine fibroid treatments.

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