Nezhat Medical Center: Patients - Treatments & Procedures

Treatments & Procedures > Myomectomy

TREATMENTS & PROCEDURES

Myomectomy

Myomectomy is a procedure where fibroids are removed from the uterus and the uterine defect caused by myoma removal is repaired. Indications for myomectomy include: pelvic pain, rapidly growing fibroids, infertility or recurrent miscarriages, ureter (tube which connects the kidney to the bladder) obstruction due to fibroid size, and an inability to assess the ovaries during Gyn exam/ultrasound.

At our center, myomectomies are performed by one of two techniques: laparoscopic myomectomy and laparoscopic assisted myomectomy. The first of these two procedures is performed entirely by minimally invasive techniques. The only difference between laparoscopic myomectomy and laparoscopic assisted myomectomy is an increase in the size of the pubic hairline incision from ¼ of an inch to 1 inch in length. This allows for removal of fibroids of any size and location. When submucous (growing within the uterine cavity) fibroids are present, they are removed during an outpatient hysteroscopy procedure.

Recovery from both types of laparoscopic procedures is the same: hospital stay less than 24 hours and a return to normal activity in 1-2 weeks (compared to 4-6 weeks following an "open" abdominal approach. Depending on the size and location of the fibroids and the degree of uterine reconstruction required, a Cesarean section may be recommended as the mode of delivery if future childbearing is desired. (This recommendation is the same for procedures performed by laparoscopy or by a regular large incision.)