As many as 80% of all women will experience fibroid growth during their lifetime. Many of these women never develop symptoms from their fibroids, but between 25% and 30% seek treatment for serious symptoms that are disrupting their lives.
Most women discover they have fibroids during a visit with their OB/GYN and are usually told that they require surgical treatment. They are given two choices: a myomectomy or a hysterectomy to eliminate their fibroids and their symptoms.
Today we are going to talk about what myomectomy surgery involves and the body changes after myomectomy that doctors may not disclose to you before you go under the knife. We will also tell you about a much less invasive way to safely eliminate fibroids and avoid the risks of surgery.
Why Would Fibroids Need to Be Eliminated?
Fibroids are benign tumors that grow in and around the uterus and are removed to eliminate the symptoms they cause that affect a woman’s health and impact her quality of life. They can produce symptoms such as heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding, which can lead to anemia, severe pelvic pain, and pressure on the bladder or bowel that can cause frequent urination or constipation. Fibroids can also interfere with fertility or cause complications during pregnancy or childbirth.
How Often Are Fibroids Treated With A Myomectomy Or A Hysterectomy?
Research has shown us that each year in the United States, over 600,000 hysterectomies are performed, and the large majority are done as a treatment for fibroids. An article from Rochester Regional Health stated that every year, about 65,000 adult American women undergo myomectomies, and most are done to eliminate fibroids.
Neither of these surgical treatments is ideal for fibroids, but unfortunately, most women defer to their doctors’ recommendations and do not research their options on their own. Over the past several years, studies have revealed links between removing the uterus (hysterectomy) and persistent health conditions in women, such as elevated risks of heart disease, various cancers, depression, metabolic disorders, and dementia.
Women who desire to preserve their fertility are often under the impression that they only have two options: undergo a hysterectomy and lose their uterus, or undergo a myomectomy. There is a third option that they are rarely informed about called uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) that can eliminate fibroid symptoms without surgery. Many women have become pregnant and delivered healthy babies after undergoing UFE.
Do Women Experience Body Changes After Myomectomy?
Yes, a myomectomy can cause changes to the body, which can vary by person depending on their individual circumstances and the extent of the surgery.
1. Bloating
Many women experience a swollen belly after myomectomy surgery that may take several weeks to dissipate. Most women also have pain, cramping, and tenderness resulting from the surgery and incisions.
2. Gaining Weight
Weight gain after a myomectomy has also been reported by many women. Myomectomy recovery can require an extended amount of downtime and interrupt an individual’s normal exercise routine.
3. Scars
Depending on the type of myomectomy, the visible scarring can be mild or more prominent. A laparoscopic myomectomy can leave 4 or 5 small scars in different places on the abdomen, and an open or traditional one can leave a larger, extended scar along the bikini line. Many women feel self-conscious about these scars, which causes them to experience a negative body image.
4. Adhesions
Bands of scar tissue form as part of the natural healing process, but depending on where they develop, the resulting adhesions can cause issues such as obstructions of the bowel, chronic pelvic pain, fertility issues, and increase the risk of future complications if another surgery is necessary.
5. Issues With Fertility
Scar tissue can form after a myomectomy, which reduces the chances of conception. The risks of experiencing fertility issues were higher for women over 35 and also increased depending on how many incisions were created in the uterus.
6. Pregnancy Complications
During a myomectomy, a surgeon attempts to remove fibroids by cutting them away from or out of the uterus. Fibroids can grow in a variety of locations and can be deeply embedded within the muscular layer or lining of the uterus. When they are removed, the integrity of the uterus is compromised. Most OB/GYNs will schedule a C-section for women who become pregnant and have had a myomectomy to avoid uterine rupture during delivery.
7. Unwanted Hysterectomy
Each year, 3 or 4 women out of every 100 who are put under general anesthesia for a myomectomy wake up without their uterus. Women must sign a waiver before they undergo myomectomy surgery that gives their consent for the surgeon to remove their uterus (perform a hysterectomy) if they determine it is necessary. The most common reason for this is uncontrolled bleeding during the procedure.
8. Recurrence
Many women who undergo fibroid removal surgery end up needing another surgery to treat the regrowth of fibroids or new fibroid growth. A combined university study reported the probability of fibroid recurrence after a myomectomy as follows:
| Time Passed Since Myomectomy Surgery | Percentage Of Probability For Reoccurance |
|---|---|
| 1 Year | 12% |
| 3 Years | 36% |
| 5 Years | 53% |
| 8 Years | 85% |
Small fibroids are often missed during myomectomies, and others may be set so deeply into the uterine tissue that the surgeon is unable to remove the entire fibroid. Additionally, the study went on to say that myomectomies that are done with laparoscopy exhibited a higher rate of fibroid recurrence than those who underwent an open myomectomy (laparotomy).
9. Other Risks
Women can experience body changes after a myomectomy if they have complications resulting from their surgery. A study conducted in Italy discovered that the more fibroids present, the greater the probability that complications will arise. Some of the risks associated with myomectomy include:
- Irreparable hemorrhage and excessive blood loss;
- Damage to the bladder, bowel, or ureter, and other nearby organs;
- Uterine damage;
- Infection;
- Intrauterine scarring;
- Blood clots.
If you have been diagnosed with fibroids and your doctor has recommended a myomectomy, or if you are experiencing fibroid recurrence after a myomectomy, set up a consultation with the Atlanta Fibroid Center. Dr. Lipman possesses over 40 years of expertise, establishing him as one of the nation’s leading experts in uterine fibroid embolization (UFE).
Their extensive experience and specialized skills have attracted women from all over the country and elsewhere seeking their expertise. They have performed over 10,000 UFE procedures, establishing themselves and the Atlanta Fibroid Center as the premier center for fibroid treatment. Set up your appointment today to learn how you can be free of fibroid symptoms without surgery.
