As many as 40-60% of women have fibroids, which are benign growths (tumors) of the uterus, which may or may not cause symptoms. If your symptoms do not respond to conservative measures and they begin to affect your quality of life or pose a medical risk to you, and you do not want a hysterectomy, you may need a myomectomy.
Myomectomy is a procedure that surgically removes fibroids and repairs the uterus for women who plan to bear children or want to keep their uterus.
This procedure can be done in a few different ways depending on the type and size of the fibroids.
Laparotomy uses an abdominal incision and allows the surgeon to visually inspect the uterus and deal with all the fibroids. It may require a short hospital stay and most patients go back to work within a few weeks.
Hysteroscopic myomectomy uses a tool called a resectoscope to enter through the vagina, release a liquid to expand the uterus and then shave away the fibroid pieces that are located in the inner lining of the uterus (endometrium).
Hysteroscopic myomectomy is an outpatient procedure and patients go home within a few hours of the surgery. This procedure does not remove fibroids in the wall of the uterus.
Laporoscopic Myomectomy is performed through small incisions made in the abdomen. Patients who undergo lapoproscopic surgery are usually released the same day and are able to go back to regular activities much faster than with traditional open myomectomy.