What Is the Recovery Period for Uterine Fibroid Surgery?

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous tumors that grow in the uterus. Treatment is only required if the tumors grow big enough to cause pain. Recovery time is dependent on what form of surgery is conducted.

Significance

• Your doctor will help you decide the best procedure of fibroid removal based on the size and location of the tumor.

Myomectomy

• A myomectomy is a fairly invasive procedure where the abdomen is cut open and the fibroid is excised. Normal recovery time for a myomectomy is two to three weeks.

Hysterectomy

• If the fibroids are too large or are causing heavy bleeding, your doctor may recommend a hysterectomy, or total removal of the uterus. Recovery time can be up to two months.

Uterine Artery Embolization

• Uterine artery embolization is a treatment where the blood supply is cut off to the fibroid in hopes it will shrink. This is not an invasive procedure and recovery time is one to two weeks.

Warning

• The only sure prevention of uterine fibroids is the complete removal of the uterus. Women who want to have children should not consider this option.