Each year, many women learn that they have fibroids, or leiomyomas, which are non-cancerous growths that develop in or on the uterus. Usually, they are presented with this information by their gynecologist because they seek treatment for chronic fibroid symptoms, including heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, abdominal pressure, pain during sex, etc.
If serious fibroid symptoms have prompted them to seek help, their OB/GYN will often recommend surgery for treatment. Among their surgical options will be myomectomy, which removes individual fibroids one at a time, or hysterectomy, which eliminates the entire uterus as well as the fibroids. If these surgeries seem like a drastic and invasive treatment for a common female reproductive condition, it is because they are.
At the Atlanta Fibroid Center, expert interventional radiologists perform a procedure called uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) that has been proven effective and much safer than any type of surgical intervention, including abdominal myomectomy surgery.
What Is An Abdominal Myomectomy And Why Is It Done?
When women are presented with only two options for fibroid treatment that both require surgery, a myomectomy is the only surgical option presented that will preserve their uterus and their fertility. Depending on the number of fibroids present, their size, and location, one of a few different myomectomy techniques can be used. If the fibroids are smaller in size and not too numerous, a laparoscopic technique can be utilized, but larger or more numerous fibroids may require abdominal myomectomy surgery.
Laparoscopic myomectomies are done through four or five small incisions that are made in the abdomen to access the uterus, and then the fibroids are each cutout and removed individually. An abdominal or open abdominal myomectomy is done using a large abdominal incision that allows the surgeon more access to the uterus.
Abdominal Myomectomy Procedure Steps
- A complete medical evaluation is done to ensure the individual is in good health and all is in order before their surgery;
- The patient is sedated using general anesthesia;
- The surgeon usually creates a horizontal incision in the lower abdomen to access the uterus, but depending on the type, size, and location of the fibroids, the incision may be vertical;
- Each fibroid is then cut out and extracted, one at a time;
- Next, the surgeon aims to repair the gaps, holes, and damage to the uterus that the extracted fibroids left behind;
- The incisions in the abdomen are then closed up using sutures and surgical dressings;
- The patient is then monitored in a recovery room until they wake up from anesthesia and their vital signs are stable, after which they are transferred to a hospital room where they will stay for observation for a day or two.
Risks and Complications Of An Abdominal Myomectomy
As with any type of surgery, an abdominal myomectomy carries certain risks and potential complications, including:
- Infection developing along the incision line or internally;
- Excessive bleeding, which could lead to a mandatory hysterectomy;
- Scar tissue formation, which can cause chronic pain or lead to fertility issues;
- Damage to organs that are within close proximity;
- The recurrence of fibroids;
- A weakened and compromised uterus that would make a C-section mandatory during a future pregnancy.
Recovering
Post-abdominal myomectomy recovery can take between four and eight weeks. Patients are sent home with prescriptions for pain medication and antibiotics, as well as a list of important aftercare directions. The surgeon will also provide you with information regarding when it will be safe for you to shower, as well as a list of activities you must avoid during your initial recovery. Some of these restrictions include heavy lifting, strenuous activities, swimming, using hot tubs, and sexual intercourse.
Are There Other Fibroid Removal Options That Retain Fertility But Do Not Require Surgery?
Yes! Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a minimally invasive alternative to a myomectomy that does not involve surgery, a hospital stay, or an extended recovery. UFE is performed by a specially trained interventional radiologist who uses a catheter to send tiny particles into the small blood vessels feeding the fibroids and keeping them alive. As soon as their blood supply is cut off, they begin to shrink and die, which relieves their painful symptoms.
The Advantages Of UFE
- Unlike a myomectomy, UFE can treat and eliminate all the fibroids, regardless of their size or location within the uterus;
- It is a minimally invasive procedure that only requires one tiny nick that is made in the groin area;
- UFE does not involve cutting into the uterine lining, so the uterus is not scarred, impacting fertility;
- Leaves the uterus strong so it is not compromised, which can lead to serious complications during childbirth;
- The risk profile is much lower than surgery, and nearby organs are not in any danger of being damaged;
- The recovery is typically between a week and ten days, and while there are some activity restrictions you must follow after UFE, they are not as extensive or for as long.
I Have Been Told I Need Surgery For Fibroids. Could I Be A Candidate For UFE?
If you have been told that your fibroids need to be removed through surgery or the complete removal of your uterus, you are almost definitely a candidate for UFE. The procedure is 90% effective and should be considered as the first line of treatment for fibroid elimination. It is significantly safer than any type of fibroid surgery, and best of all, it lets you keep your uterus intact.
The Atlanta Fibroid Center Can Eliminate Fibroids Without Surgery
Here at the Atlanta Fibroid Center, we hear numerous stories of patients being advised that surgery is their only option for fibroid removal. We also hear many stories about women who have undergone multiple myomectomies just to have their fibroids return again. An OB/GYN does not perform the UFE procedure, so they rarely inform their patients of this option. Dr. Lipman has decades of experience in performing UFE and has helped more than 10,000 women gain freedom from fibroid symptoms.
If you have fibroids, you have an option for treatment that does not involve surgery. Contact us today to set up a consultation and learn more about UFE, the safer, non-invasive alternative to myomectomy or hysterectomy.
