What are Fibroids, and How Are They Removed?

The most common condition treated by hysterectomy is fibroids. Uterine fibroids are benign tumors of the uterine muscle that can cause abnormal bleeding, pain, and/or infertility. Because they come from the uterine wall, as they grow and enlarge, the uterus becomes enlarged along with them. Fibroids can range in size from the size of a pea to as large as a basketball. Fibroids may cause abnormal vaginal bleeding and pelvic pain. When you are bleeding all the time, it can be hard to work, exercise, or take care of your household. It can also take a toll on your relationships by causing pain with sex.

When doing a laparoscopic hysterectomy, fibroids (and the uterus) are usually removed through the vagina. However, sometimes they are too large to be removed through the vagina, and we have to break them up into pieces. We use a device called a morcellator to do this. The morcellator is an instrument that fits through the incision site that can cut and extract small pieces of fibroid. To see the morcellator remove fibroids during a robotic hysterectomy, visit my YouTube channel here and watch, “Complex Hysterectomy Made Easy.”