Should I get a Myomectomy or a Hysterectomy?
Do I get a Myomectomy or a Hysterotomy?
Myomectomy is a procedure where your fibroids are removed, and a hysterectomy is a procedure where the uterus along with the fibroids.
Many patients think hysterectomy is a more complicated, difficult, time consuming procedure, but this is not always the case. Sometimes a myomectomy is the more difficult, time consuming procedure and can also be quite bloody because we're actually removing the fibroid, cutting it out of the wall of the uterus, taking it out, and then suturing the spot where we took it out from. And we repeat this for multiple fibroids or maybe a few large fibroids. So this can actually cause a lot of blood loss. So sometimes the myomectomy can be the harder procedure. So do not choose based on your perception of which is the harder and longer procedure maybe. So what should you choose based on, then?
I have two thoughts.
Fertility: If you are not done having children or you've never had kids and you want a child, then, well, the answer is easy. You definitely have to keep your uterus. You have to preserve the uterus. So hysterectomy is off the table. You want to do a myomectomy. It may take a long time. It may be a little bloody, but that's the only option you've got.
Your tolerance to your symptoms: So if your fibroids are causing very heavy bleeding or maybe it's causing pain, pressure, constipation, and you're just done with it, and perhaps you never want to deal with this again. You've taken all the pills, you've done the minor procedures, and you've been dealing with it for years, you have a very low tolerance for these symptoms anymore. In that case, you want to go with the hysterectomy because you don't want to risk the fibroids growing back or not being able to take them all out. On the flip side, if you're a patient who wants to preserve every organ in your body to the last moment, your emotion attached to your uterus, you don't want your uterus to leave your body. And you have a pretty high tolerance for your symptoms. So, yes, it's bothering you. It's annoying you. You've dealt with it for a long time. But you don't want to take it out, you don't want the finality of taking out your uterus, then you may be somebody who wants to consider a myomectomy or just removing the fibroids. So, again, there's no clear right or wrong.
There are some other nuances that your gynecologist will discuss with you. But these are the top two things you want to think about.
1. Fertility
2. Your tolerance of your symptoms
And you want to spend some time thinking about this prior to your consultation with your GYN, so you can really come to a conclusion on what the best course of action is going to be for you.
If you are in California and you have fibroids and you are debating about a Myomectomy vs. Hysterectomy,
come and see me.
I'm in Lafayette, CA and my number is 925-74-7473 , and I'll be happy to see you for a consultation.
If you are not in California, you're somewhere else in the country or the world, and you just want a trustworthy person to answer all your questions about a hysterectomy or myomectomy or fibroids.
You can set up a coaching session with me, email: thefibroiddoc@gmail.com , and we can set up a time and go over all your questions.
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