Fibroids are noncancerous tumors, or growths, that can appear on the interior or exterior surfaces of a woman's uterus. You can have fibroids removed or destroyed through a variety of surgical techniques. However, if you wish to have a child at a later date, your doctor may recommend a procedure called a myomectomy.
Fibroid Basics
Fibroids typically occur in women over the age of 30, according to MedlinePlus. While the precise cause of these tumors is not known, their development seems linked to the presence of estrogen in your body. Depending on your personal circumstances, fibroids may vary in size from microscopic growths to large masses that can take up the entire interior of your uterus. Common locations for fibroids include the muscle of your uterine wall, the exterior covering of your uterus and the lining inside your uterus. You may also develop pendunculated fibroids, which grow on stalks of tissue inside or outside your uterus.
Myomectomy
A myomectomy is designed to remove your fibroids while leaving the structure of your uterus intact, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, or ACOG. For this reason, many women who undergo the procedure can have children at a later time. Depending on the location and size of your fibroids, a myomectomy can be performed in one of three ways: During a laparotomy, a surgeon will make an incision in your abdomen, and then remove your fibroids through this opening. During a laparoscopy, a surgeon will remove your fibroids through smaller abdominal incisions with the help of a tiny camera. During a hysteroscopy, a surgeon will remove small fibroids through the cervix.
Other Common Procedures
Several common fibroid procedures decrease or eliminate your chances of getting pregnant in the future, ACOG reports. During an endometrial ablation, your doctor will use various methods to destroy the lining of your uterus, making a future pregnancy unlikely for most women. During a hysterectomy, a surgeon will remove your uterus along with your fibroids, making a future pregnancy an impossibility. During a uterine artery embolization, your doctor will block the blood supply that feeds your fibroids. Doctors do not know the full effects of this procedure, and ACOG recommends that you consider other options if you want to have a child.
Focused Ultrasound
You may also have fibroids removed through a noninvasive procedure called focused ultrasound surgery. During this procedure, your doctor will use an MRI scanner to take an image of your uterus, and then destroys your fibroids with high-frequency sound waves. However, according to 2009 information from MayoClinic.com., focused ultrasound is relatively new, and doctors do not yet fully understand its long-term effects and consequences.
Considerations
If you have a myomectomy, your doctor may need to perform a Cesarean section to complete any future pregnancies, ACOG notes. In addition, surgical scarring from a myomectomy can potentially make you infertile. In some cases, new fibroids appear after a myomectomy. If this is the case, you may need to undergo additional surgical procedures.
