Fibroids and Treatment Options
Uterine fibroids (also called fibroids, uterine tumors, leiomyomata, and myomas) are non-cancerous tumors occurring in at least one quarter of all women.1 They can grow underneath the uterine lining, inside the uterine wall, or outside the uterus.
Many women don’t feel any symptoms with uterine tumors or fibroids. But for others, these fibroids can cause excessive menstrual bleeding (also called menorrhagia), abnormal periods, uterine bleeding, pain, discomfort, frequent urination and infertility.2
Treatment options include uterine fibroid embolization (which shrinks the tumor) and surgery. Surgical treatment for uterine tumors most often involves
hysterectomy,
in which the entire uterus is removed.3
While hysterectomy is a proven way to resolve fibroids, it may not be the best surgical treatment for every woman. If, for example, you hope to later become pregnant, you may want to consider alternatives to hysterectomy, such as
myomectomy.
Myomectomy is a uterine-preserving procedure performed to remove uterine fibroids.
A new category of minimally invasive myomectomy,
da Vinci Myomectomy,
combines the best of open and laparoscopic surgery. With the assistance of the
da Vinci Surgical System,
surgeons may remove uterine fibroids through small incisions with unmatched precision and control.
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Newbold RR, DiAugustine RP, Risinger JI, Everitt JI, Walmer DK, Parrott EC, Dixon D. Advances in uterine leiomyoma research: conference overview, summary, and future research recommendations. Environ Health Perspect. 2000 Oct;108 Suppl 5:769-73. Review.
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National Institutes of Health: Fast Facts about Uterine Fibroids.
www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/fibroids/sub1.htm#where
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Becker ER, Spalding J, DuChane J, Horowitz IR. Inpatient surgical treatment patterns for patients with uterine fibroids in the United States, 1998-2002. J Natl Med Assoc. 2005 Oct;97(10):1336-42.
Learn more:
>
da Vinci urologic surgery
(including
treatment for prostate cancer
)
>
da Vinci gynocelogic surgery
(including hysterectomy)
> da Vinci cardiothoracic surgery (including mitral valve repair)
> The da Vinci Surgical System at daVinciSurgery.com
While clinical studies support the effectiveness of the da Vinci System when used in minimally invasive surgery, individual results may vary. Surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.