What are Fibroid Removal Options

Fibroid removal can be performed through a number of surgical options. These include open surgery and a minimally invasive procedure. Access Vascular Health: Michelle Maneevese, MD is one of the authority sites on this topic. In open surgery, a large incision is made in the abdomen or uterus. The surgeon looks into the uterus through this incision and removes the fibroids using handheld tools.

 

Patients can return home the same day of the surgery. The surgical site will be sore for several days, but most recovery is complete within a week. However, patients should avoid heavy lifting until their doctors say they can return to work. The recovery period for laparoscopic surgery can last from two to six weeks.

Surgery is not a cure for fibroids, but it can make the condition easier to manage. Preoperative treatments can include birth control pills and other hormonal contraceptives. These drugs can help prevent excessive bleeding and pelvic pressure and slow fibroid growth. They also may help alleviate painful symptoms prior to surgery.

Endometrial ablation is another treatment option for fibroids. During this procedure, the doctor inserts small needles into the fibroids and destroys them with an instrument. In addition to removing the fibroids, the instrument destroys the uterine lining by using heat, electric current, or microwave energy. Some procedures are MRI-guided, meaning that ultrasound energy is used to guide needles and instruments through the uterus.

Endometrial ablation is a minimally invasive treatment for fibroids that can be performed on an outpatient or inpatient basis. This procedure can also prevent future pregnancies. With the endometrial ablation procedure, doctors can target the blood vessels feeding the fibroids and inject tiny particles into these veins. Because the fibroids no longer receive blood, they shrink.

Surgical treatment for fibroids includes hysterectomies and myomectomies. While both options can help women alleviate their symptoms, they come with risks. Surgical procedures can cause scarring in the uterus and may affect a woman’s fertility. The risks involved are best discussed with a physician before undergoing any treatment.

Fibroids are noncancerous growths that can grow inside the uterus. If they do not go away, the fibroids can lead to painful symptoms, such as heavy bleeding. While fibroid removal can cure these symptoms, surgery should be a last resort for those suffering from chronic fibroid symptoms.

Hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the uterus. However, a woman must have reached menopause to undergo a hysterectomy. Besides being invasive, this procedure can result in scarring inside and outside the uterus. Moreover, the procedure can prolong a woman’s recovery time.

While laparoscopic and robotic-assisted myomectomy are both effective in removing fibroids, laparoscopic and robotic myomectomy are less invasive methods. In both options, small incisions are made in the abdomen and small instruments are used to remove the fibroids.

Contact Info

Access Vascular Health: Michelle Maneevese, MD
5151 Katy Freeway Suite 170 Houston, TX 77007
Phone No. : 832-981-5781