A myomectomy is an operation to remove fibroids from the womb while leaving the womb itself in place. It is usually chosen by women who wish to keep their womb or their fertility.
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths of the muscle of the womb. They can cause heavy or painful periods, pressure on the bladder or bowel, a swollen abdomen and, in some women, difficulty getting pregnant.
Depending on the number, size and position of the fibroids, a myomectomy can be done through a cut in the abdomen (open myomectomy), by keyhole surgery (laparoscopic myomectomy), or through the cervix using a thin camera (hysteroscopic myomectomy) for fibroids that grow into the cavity of the womb.
