What is a myomectomy? What are the challenges with a myomectomy?

 

While uterine fibroid embolization is a less invasive procedure performed by an interventional radiologist, a myomectomy is performed by a gynecologist and is slightly more invasive. Dr. Linda Hughes, M.D., details exactly what happens in this procedure.

“A myomectomy is a surgical procedure performed by the gynecologist that involves removing the actual fibroids but leaving the uterus intact. Typically, that is done for future fertility or if a woman wants to get pregnant in the future. Myomectomy used to be a lot more popular, but as embolization has gotten more popular, myomectomy has gotten less popular.

“Whether it’s a laparoscopic myomectomy or an open myomectomy, it still involves general anesthesia, surgical incision, a longer recovery time, a higher incidence of bleeding and blood transfusions because you’re not cutting off or reducing the blood supply, as well as about a third of them recur or grow back.”

See Dr. Suzanne Slonim’s answer to this question.

 

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