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Uterine Fibroids
Their Affects on Fertility, Pregnancy and Beyond
By Kelly Burgess
Natalie Hunter, a patient of Dr. McLucas, was the first woman to have the procedure in the United States. It was performed in 1993 by Dr. Scott Goodwin, an interventional radiologist, in consult with Dr. McLucas. Six years later, she gave birth to her first child. At the time, she didn't realize she was such a pioneer.
"When I was consulting with Drs. McLucas and Goodwin, I thought I was going to have a myomectomy," Goodwin says. "I just begged them to please do whatever it took so I could still have children. They decided I was a good candidate for this procedure, and they obviously made a good decision."
Myomectomy: Myomectomy is a surgical procedure in which the fibroids are removed and reconstruction and repair of the uterus is undertaken. It can be done either abdominally or vaginally, depending upon the circumstances. The outcome is generally good, and fertility is maintained in an estimated 50 percent of all cases. There are some caveats. Recovery can be difficult and painful. Scar tissue may impact fertility and cause its own problems. And, as Dr. McLucas points out, the fibroids can grow back, and do in up to one-third of all women. It's probably not the best choice for younger women.
Hysterectomy: Removing the uterus certainly removes the problem but often leads to other issues. Both Drs. McLucas and Parker agree that this should be a treatment of last resort.
The bottom line is that not all treatments work for all women. A women needs to be informed and to work with her doctor to decide on her best course of treatment. Also, regular exams are important to catch fibroids while they're still small.
"One thing women need to bear in mind is that regardless of the method of treatment chosen, it's better to have it done earlier rather than later," Dr. McLucas says. "If we start with a uterus that's the size of a six-month pregnancy and get it down to four months it's still big."
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