Solutions to Fibroid Removal

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths, or tumors, that can develop in several locations on or inside the uterus. They are also called uterine fibroids. In most cases, fibroids are harmless and do not require treatment. However, in some individuals they cause serious discomfort or symptoms that present a medical emergency. There are several solutions available to remove fibroids in these circumstances.

Reasons for Fibroid Removal

• According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms that may trigger fibroid removal include painful or extremely heavy periods, bleeding or spotting between periods, persistent pelvic pain, difficulty emptying your bowels or bladder, and pain during sexual intercourse. If you experience sharp, sudden pelvic pain or severe bleeding, you may need rapid or emergency removal of your fibroids.

Myomectomy

• Your doctor may choose to remove your fibroids with a surgical procedure called a myomectomy. Depending on your needs, this surgery can be performed in several different ways. During a laparoscopic myomectomy, your surgeon will insert a tiny camera through a small incision in your abdomen and use an accompanying external monitor to view your uterus. He will then insert specialized instruments through other small incisions and remove your fibroids. Typically, you are a candidate for a laparoscopic procedure if your fibroids are small, or if only a few of them are present.

  If your fibroids are located inside your uterus, your surgeon may remove them in a procedure called a hysteroscopic myomectomy. In this technique, a thin, hollow scope called a hysteroscope is inserted into your uterus through your vagina and cervix. Your surgeon will then remove your fibroids through the interior of the hysteroscope. If your fibroids are large, deep or numerous, your surgeon may perform an abdominal myomectomy. In this procedure, an open incision is made in your abdomen to allow direct removal of your fibroids. Be aware that your fibroids may return after a myomectomy is performed.

Hysterectomy

• If you suffer from recurrent fibroids and are past childbearing age--or do not wish to have children--your surgeon may remove your fibroids through a surgical technique called a hysterectomy. In this procedure, your entire uterus is removed along with its associated fibroids. In some cases, removal of your ovaries is also indicated, but this is usually not necessary. As a rule, hysterectomy is the only way to guarantee your fibroids will not return.

Nonsurgical Solutions

• It is also possible to destroy or shrink your fibroids without having them surgically removed. One method of achieving this goal is called myolysis, which uses lasers or electrical current to destroy your existing fibroids and restrict their blood supply. If your fibroids cause abnormal bleeding, your doctor may recommend a technique called endometrial ablation, which uses electrical current, microwaves or hot water to destroy your uterine lining and reduce or stop your menstrual flow. Your doctor may also recommend focused bursts of high-energy ultrasound waves to destroy your fibroids from outside your body. Consult your doctor or surgeon to learn more about these nonsurgical treatment options.