Myomectomy in United States

There are three types of myomectomy: abdominal myomectomy, laparoscopic myomectomy, and hysteroscopic myomectomy. All performed under general anesthetic. With abdominal myomectomy, your surgeon makes a large incision through the lower abdomen into the uterus, removes the fibroids from the uterine wall, and closes the incisions with stitches. With laparoscopic myomectomy, your surgeon makes four small incisions to insert surgical tools and a laparoscope (a thin, flexible tube with a light and a camera on one end) and cut your fibroids into small pieces. With hysteroscopic myomectomy, your surgeon inserts a thin scope through your vagina and cervix into your uterus, then shave off pieces of the fibroid using a wire loop.

Unless you undergo hysteroscopic myomectomy, you will need to stay in the hospital for 1 to 3 days. Plan to stay in United States for at least 7 days to attend follow-up checkups and also removal of the stitches.

You will need to rest for 1 week and the recovery period depends on which type of Myomectomy you underwent: four to six weeks after abdominal myomectomy, two to four weeks after laparoscopic myomectomy, two to three days after hysteroscopic myomectomy. Wait for around six weeks until you can have sex, but you should wait three to six months before trying to get pregnant.

After the surgery, you will have some restrictions on your diet. You will need to take care of the surgical site as it heals to limit scarring and infection. You may be advised to do some light exercises, but refrain from doing anything strenuous such as heavy lifting until you are fully recovered.

Myomectomy is very effective and complications are very rare. However, it does have some risks and side effects you need to be aware of, including excessive blood loss, pregnancy complications, scar tissue, damage to nearby organs, and new fibroids. 

If your fibroids do not cause any symptoms or the symptoms are mild, you do not need any treatment. If you do need treatment, your alternatives to myomectomy are myolysis, uterine artery embolization, hysterectomy, and endometrial ablation.