Fibroid Tumor Operation

Fibroid tumors are non-cancerous growths found in the uterus. They cause pain, cramps and long, heavy menstruations. When these symptoms become debilitating and hormone therapy and anti-inflammatory measures aren't enough, the fibroids need to be surgically removed.

Hysterectomy

• Fibroid tumors are the cause of 40 percent of all hysterectomy procedures, according to fibroids.com. A hysterectomy involves removal of the entire uterus as well as the cervix, which not only eliminates current fibroids, but also prevents future growth.

Abdominal myomectomy

• An abdominal myomectomy involves a long, abdominal incision through which a surgeon removes just the fibroids, leaving the uterus intact; in most cases, women can still become pregnant after this procedure, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Laparoscopic myomectomy

• Laparoscopic myomectomy uses laparoscopic instruments inserted into the abdomen through small abdominal incisions to remove fibroids, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Hysteroscopic myomectomy

• A hysteroscopic myomectomy involves inserting a camera and medical instruments into the uterus via the cervix to cut out the fibroids, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Uterine artery embolization

• Uterine artery embolization involves injecting particles into the uterine arteries to kill the fibroids by cutting off their blood supply, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Complications

• Complications are possible with any surgical procedure. Possible hysterectomy complications include bleeding, blood clots, infection and adverse anesthesia reactions. Possible myomectomy complications include: bleeding, infertility caused by scar tissue, recurrence of fibroids and complications during childbirth, according to the Mayo Clinic.