Myomectomy and the Risk for Recurring Uterine Fibroids

Gynecological complications are a leading cause of health concern for many women. For women who live with the complications associated with fibroid tumors, there are many treatment options available, offering a variety of solutions to this painful condition.

For women with leiomyomata, or uterine fibroids, one drastic option involves the surgical removal of the uterus, known as a hysterectomy. In hysterectomy, the uterus can be removed, with or without the ovaries, providing women with an immediate resolution to painful uterine fibroid complications.

However, with hysterectomy, there are a variety of health complications that can arise, especially in women who are not close to approaching menopause and will, as a result, require hormone replacement therapy.

In lieu of hysterectomy, women who are perimenopausal, suffering from uterine fibroids, are, instead, opting for a surgical procedure known as myomectomy. In the myomectomy procedure, the woman's fibroids are surgically removed, leaving the uterus intact.

The issue at debate, however, is the risk for developing uterine fibroids on a repeat occasion. In fact, many women, upon reaching menopause, or upon the initiation of hormone replacement therapy, will experience the development of uterine fibroids. With a prior history of uterine fibroids and myomectomy surgery, upon reaching menopausal age and initiating HRT, the risk for developing more uterine fibroids is quite high.

Knowing this risk, women who are past their child bearing years, or simply no longer desire children, may opt to forego the myomectomy when treating uterine fibroids for fear of recurrence. Instead, these women are seeking out the removal of the uterus, by hysterectomy, and the initiation of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with no concern over uterine fibroid recurrence. Another added factor is the risks for infection, blood loss and complications with hysterectomy found to be no different than in a myomectomy procedure.