Myomectomy (uterine fibroids)

A myomectomy consists of removing one or more uterine fibroids while preserving the uterus. Fibroids are very common benign tumors of the uterine muscle; when they cause heavy bleeding, pain, a feeling of heaviness, or interfere with plans for pregnancy, their removal may be offered. Unlike a hysterectomy, a myomectomy preserves the uterus and therefore the possibility of future pregnancies. It is the procedure of choice for young women or those wishing to have children. The surgical approach depends on the number, size and location of the fibroids: hysteroscopy (through the natural passages) for fibroids inside the uterine cavity, laparoscopy for many cases, or the abdominal route for large or multiple fibroids. The pre-operative work-up, in particular ultrasound and sometimes MRI, allows the fibroids to be precisely mapped and the best strategy to be chosen. The gynecologist explains to each patient the expected benefits and the arrangements for subsequent monitoring, as fibroids can sometimes recur over time. At Clinique Pasteur Tunis, the gynecological surgeons master the full range of myomectomy techniques and favor minimally invasive approaches whenever possible, in order to preserve the uterus as much as possible and facilitate recovery.