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If the fibroids fail to respond to medication, doctors frequently recommend surgical treatment. The two forms of surgery are hysterectomy or myomectomy. Hysterectomy
A hysterectomy is a major surgical procedure in which the entire uterus containing the fibroids are removed. This procedure is very common, with approximately 600,000 hysterectomies performed each year in the U.S. Hysterectomy requires an extended recovery period and eliminates a woman's childbearing options.
Myomectomy
Myomectomy is an alternative surgical procedure in which fibroids are removed but the uterus is left in place. Myomectomy is also considered major surgery and can be associated with significant loss of blood and requires an extended recovery period. Myomectomy can only remove a few of the largest fibroids or some of the fibroids that may be causing symptoms. Even in the case of a successful myomectomy, however, the fibroids may recur, requiring additional intervention to treat or remove them.
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