I've been diagnosed with 3 fibroids, 8 cm, 3 cm and 2 cm. Although I have no symptoms we'd like to have a baby so the recommendation was myomectomy, because the location prevents conception. I'm 35 years old. What are my chances after this procedure? Should I consider embolization? A surgeon was recommended who specializes in microsurgery. He proudly promised less chance for scarring, better chances for conception and a quicker recovery. He has published a study using his microsurgical procedure (70% successful pregancy, 7/10 women who tried), although it was a small and uncontrolled study. Another question: how bad is the surgery? Pain? Misery? Am I a moron for waiting so long to have kids? Is this punishment for a having a career because that's what it feels like. Ok, I know that was a stupid comment, but I can't help but think about it also I am sure that's what my family will say. I am trying not to get down because there are much worse things that can happen.

Oh sweetie, down think like that. This is not punishment because you had a carreer. That is what you choose and what you felt comfortable with and that's all that should matter. This is when you choose to start having kids and that is your right. I have 2 fibroids and havenever had surgery, and have2 have had 2 baby born vaginally with them. I have had dr's try topressure me into having surgery but i choose not to. I don't know the#'s for you. Hope you get a bfp really soon!

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Hi and welcome to the board!

I had a myomectomy due to 5 large fibroids- larger than yours because I wanted to get pg. Based on my experience on this board over the years- I am finding that those that go the surgery route- especially those that are reccommended by their docs-usually get pg. Those that opt not to are left ttcing for years and years without a bfp.

The surgery is sligthly painful;- the recovery is hard. The incision hurts and you have a hard time walking afterwards. The recovery time depends on how major the surgery is- my recovery was 2 months bed rest and 10 months no ttcing- but I've know others to have much shorter recovery time- again mine were so big. I'd do it all again to get pg if I needed to....my reward was my wonderful son-eventually- had to have another surgery after that but got pg shortly afterwards.

I don't have much knowledge of embolization- so I can't say. I do remember when it was first introduced it wasn't reccommended for women that want to get pg. It may have changed since.

You are like many others....working women that have careers and goals. I didn't have my first baby until 33. My Dh and I didn't ttc until I was 28 and then didn't get a bfp until 33- so there were times I kicked myself for waiting.... But honestly I probably had those fibroids and may not have gotten pg then either...you never know.

GOOD LUCK and keep us posted.

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I will keep you posted. Thanks for your support. Can you tell me about caesarian? Is it necessary after the myomectomy? How is that? What about scarring and recovery? Do these things grow back and do we have any idea about how fast they grow?

I am waiting for a surgery date. I will let you know, and what may be interesting to other women with fibroids is that apparently this surgeon has a unique technique. He uses a laser and microsurgical instruments. He claims that his technique allows for faster recovery, less chance of recurrence and greater chance for pregnancy (due to less internal scarring, ie, adhesions). Now if he is right about this it seems to me that other people would want to know about him and also, shouldn't other physicians be encouraged to adopt these methods? Anyway, I will keep you posted. Meanwhile, I am increasing my exercise workout to get ready for this thing. It's supposed to help speed recovery, because of course we want to try to get pg ASAP.

Yes- a c-section is necessary after a myomectomy- the abdominal wall can't handle labor- you could hemmoridge. I had no problem with a c-section. I was always afraid of labor and am glad I got out of it. I have a pencil thin scar above the public hair line- no one can really see it. For the c-section they just cut into that same scar.

I had to have a hysteroscopy a year later to remove another fibroid AND the scar tissue from the myomectomy. I beleive that surgery lead to my BFP 6 months later.

GOOD LUCK with the surgery and keep us posted. Most get their bfp around 6 months after the removal pending no other fertility problems.

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Ok, so I get out of labor. I guess that's a plus. We have to see the upside of these things right? So you're expecting #2 Sheryl? Congratulations & good for you! Aidan is adorable. This gives me some hope.....

THANKS!
It was a long hard journey to get Aidan. #2 was easy AND I currently have 7 small fibroids.

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That's is one of the reason i choose not to have surgry. i'm am acared 2 death of a csection! I have had 2 vaginal birth a within a week after giving birth i was back in college, and doing most of my normal activities. iwas on bedrest 1oweeks till delivery at 38 weeks with #2 and just the thought of the recovery with a csection made me want 2 cry.

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To me the c-section was no biggie. The first day you don't move- then the next day you slowly start to walk- hurts- but they give you pain meds- GOOD pain meds... By the time I got home for the hospital I was pretty normal. I opted to sleep on the first floor for a while to avoid the stairs- but was able to climb stairs if needed. I had tons of help from DH. So that helped. The thought of natural labor is totally terrifying for me. I would faint when watching birthing videos. I actually have a friend that was so scared of labor- she had a c-section- no medical reason to have one. For me- the surgery to remove the fibroids was the only way I would get pg- otherwise I doubt I would have children of my own today.

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Normal birth and C sections both seem to have their pros and cons. I would never opt for a c section by choice, but it seems my choices are currently restricted to not having the surgery and probably never having kids at all (and I may end up becoming symptomatic so I could end up having the surgery anyway if they grow) OR having the surgery and having a baby via c section. Oh well. I am not going to get down about this. The only way to do this is to see the benefits of the c section. Do they give you general anesthesia? Lying there as they cut your abdomen open does not seem fun.

I am not sure which anesthesia- but I was awake and could move my head and arms. They did a spinal...which sucked. It didn't hurt but was scary because you cannot move a muscle during it. I hated that part. My DH was there so he watched the birth. The doc brought Aidan around my curtain for me to see but I didn't get to hold him until I was moved to recovery and he was cleaned up. DH stayed with Aidan while I was wheeled to the other room. Aidan was cleaned in my room and placed on my chest. DH, Aidan and I were alone for a while...until they moved me to a room where my parents and Inlaws could come see us.

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We women have to go through so much crap. Ugh. You're very brave.

I don't know if I can deal with all of this.

I wasn't brave prior to fibroids. I had 2 surgeries PLUS 2 sonohysterograms and many many blood tests and crap with the RE - by the time I had the baby nothihg really phased me. Plus recovery from the myomectomy was harder than recovery from the c-section. So by the time I was giving birth I was used to it. I have to admit- when I have to do the spinal again this round I may freak out- or I may be ok...only time will tell.

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I thought the sonohysterogram was mostly annoying, but it didn't really bother me. Also, I took a bunch of aspirin first. That helped. Nobody told me that I'd have to go through this kind of sh*t to have a baby. Not exactly what I had in mind. If I had known I might have tried sooner. Of course, maybe they were already there then as well. Who knows?

My quest to have Aidan was a long, hard road of 5 years. I was bitter at times. Today I am just happy I have what I want!! (Wish I was younger) but happy.

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Thought I would chime in. I had 4 fibroids about the size of large eggs on the outside of my uterus and a small one, about the size of a lemon drop candy, on the inside. Initially, 2 gynecologists told me that they were not the problem and that they did not need to be removed. 3 years later, i still was not pregnant. I began seeing a fertility specialist who initially was going to start IUI treatments. The first time I could not afford the drugs. So, we post poned it. The second time, when the did the ultrasound, they decided that both the fibroids should be removed so that the uterus can be as healthy as possible. So, I have a myemectomy to remove the fibroids on the outside and a d/c to remove what turned out to be a polyp on the inside. I have a thin scar from my incision at the bikini line. The doctor told me that they actually lifted my uterus up out of my body to get remove the fibroids on the outside. He said that my uterus, previously completed mishapen due to fibroids, immediated went back to normal shape and size once the fibroids were removed. Essentially, there was no trauma to the uterus itself, it was never cut. So, I recovered in 4 weeks. Initially, it hurt to move, it hurt to use the restroom. But within the first week, I was no longer using the pain meds. DH and I decided not to do the IUI, but to try on our own until I turned 40. The surgery was on 3-9-05 and I was 39. On 9-8-05 I took a HPT and got a BFP!!! I am now 2 months pg and my 40th Birthday is in december.

I have no idea if I will be able to have the child naturally, but I have been told by friends that they could not have natural child birth after myemectomy, so, I am prepared to have the c-section.

I also remember reading that embolization was not recommended for women who still wanted to conceive because they were not sure of the affects on the uterine wall. But that was when the procedure first came out. Maybe you should ask to speak to some of this guys prior patients who went on to conceive after the procedure.

I did not meet my DH until I was 36, so, I was just a late starter. I felt guilty for waiting at first. But I was waiting on the right guy. I do not think women get punished for having a career or starting to TTC later in life for whatever reason. The world has changed and we are doing things differently. And increasing numbers are having babies after 35. So, just believe and do what you need to do. I believe your dream to have a child of your own will come true. You are on the right track!

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Kim 39
DH 33
BFP 16 DPO, EDD 5-16-06 We are so excited!

Congratulations to you on your pregnancy! That's great news. And thanks for the support.

The surgey is tomorrow, 11:00. I guess I'll find out what happens next.

Let us know how it goes! You are in my thoughts.

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Kim 39
DH 33
BFP 16 DPO, EDD 5-16-06 We are so excited!

The surgery is over. Started last Tuesday, the 25th at 11:00 am and I think it lasted about an hour. I was in the hospital until Friday and now I am home. I feel weak and there is still a bit of pain, but each day seems to get easier. I feel particularly good today. On Friday I was able to walk up the four floors to get to our fourth floor walk-up apartment. I haven't gone out since. Some people came and brought food. I am lucky, I had a great surgeon and great doctors at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC. The nurses were also very good, with only a few exceptions. My husband was a nurse in a previous career and he came and took care of me as well. In general I would say it was very successful and I am amazed that all of it was done with a CO2 laser (no knives). I don't even have staples or stitches, just tape. The incision is healing incredibly fast at only 6 days postsurgery. I don't know how easy it is to find a laser surgeon/microsurgeon but I certainly recommend it if you can find one. Or if you're in the NYC area, use mine!

The fibroids turned out to be bigger than diagnosed. One huge orange-to-grapefruit sized one, occupying 90% of the uterine cavity, one tangerine-sized one, and a small one inch one. The surgical resident who assisted my surgeon was so impressed that she came to my hospital room to tell me that I "created something very impressive." I told her that I wasn't sure how to respond to that.

Anyway, that's my story. The experience was bad, but only for a limited time period. Under the circumstances I think I received very good treatment and that the surgery was very successful.

I am so glad it is over and now you can focus on healing! Sounds like that large one was taking up too much room in your uterus. I think when you are able to ttc again you will have success within 6 months.

Please keep me up to date on your progress!
YAY!!!!!

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