Fibroid Removal Surgery (Myomectomy)

Many women in their 30s and 40s have a fibroid and never know it. The trouble starts when fibroids grow. Periods flood through clothes, haemoglobin won't stay up, the belly looks pregnant, or the bladder sends you to the toilet every hour. For women hoping to conceive, a fibroid in the wrong place can get in the way too.

A myomectomy removes the fibroids and leaves the uterus in place. The surgeon cuts into the uterine wall over each fibroid, shells it out and stitches the muscle back together in layers, so it's strong enough to carry a pregnancy later. It can be done through keyhole cuts, through a bikini-line cut, or, for fibroids inside the cavity, through the cervix with a hysteroscope.

For most women, heavy bleeding and pressure symptoms improve markedly. Be aware of the limits, though. Myomectomy doesn't stop new fibroids growing, and some women need further treatment years later. Bleeding during the operation can be heavy, because the uterus has a rich blood supply.

We treat fibroids with medicines as well as laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery in our gynaecology department. Your surgeon chooses the approach from the number, size and position of your fibroids, which we map with ultrasound before the operation.

Myomectomy is for women whose fibroids cause symptoms and who want to keep the uterus, usually for a future pregnancy but sometimes simply by choice.

How quickly you recover depends on the approach, so ask your surgeon which timeline applies to you.