Myomectomy (Uterine Fibroids)

Uterine fibroids are benign (non-cancerous) tumors occurring in at least one quarter of all women. They can grow underneath the uterine lining, inside the uterine wall, or outside the uterus.

Many women don't feel any symptoms with uterine tumors or fibroids. But for others, these fibroids can cause excessive menstrual bleeding (also called menorrhagia), abnormal periods, uterine bleeding, pain, discomfort, frequent urination and infertility.

Treatments include uterine fibroid embolization - which shrinks the tumor - and uterine fibroid surgery. Uterine fibroid surgery most often involves the surgeon removing the entire uterus, via hysterectomy.

While hysterectomy is a proven way to resolve fibroids, it may not be the best surgical treatment for every woman. If, for example, you hope to later become pregnant, you may want to consider alternatives to hysterectomy like myomectomy. Myomectomy is a uterine-preserving procedure performed to remove uterine fibroids.

Types of Myomectomy

The conventional approach to uterine fibroid surgery is an open surgery myomectomy, through an abdominal incision. The surgeon removes each uterine fibroid and then repairs the uterine wall.

da Vinci® Myomectomy

A new category of minimally invasive uterine fibroid surgery, da Vinci® Myomectomy, combines the best of open and laparoscopic surgery.

With the assistance of the da Vinci® Surgical System, surgeons remove uterine fibroids through small incisions with unmatched precision and control.

Among the potential benefits of da Vinci® surgery as compared to traditional open abdominal surgery are:

Opportunity for future pregnancy
Significantly less pain
Less blood loss
Fewer complications
Less scarring
A shorter hospital stay
A faster return to normal daily activities

da Vinci® surgery allows your surgeon to perform a minimally invasive, yet remarkably precise, comprehensive reconstruction of the uterine wall, regardless of the size or location of your fibroids. The unique level of control and precision provided by da Vinci® surgery also can help your surgeon give the most precise and thorough reconstruction possible, helping to prevent possible uterine rupture (tearing) during future pregnancies.