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Study Objective: To evaluate the baseline and postoperative changes in quality of life and symptom-severity scores in women undergoing laparoscopic or open abdominal myomectomy for symptomatic myomas.Design: Prospective cohort study of patients choosing myomectomy for symptomatic uterine myomas.Setting: Academic medical center.Patients: A total of 143 women enrolled in the study. Of these, 80 women completed both a preoperative questionnaire and at least 1 postoperative questionnaire between 6 and 27 months after surgery.Interventions: A total of 52 women had open abdominal myomectomy, and 28 had laparoscopic myomectomy between October 2014 and September 2017.Measurements and Main Results: The results of the Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Health-Related Quality-of-Life Questionnaire were compared before and after laparoscopic or open myomectomy. Women undergoing open abdominal myomectomy had larger and more numerous myomas than women undergoing laparoscopic myomectomy. Baseline quality-of-life scores were less adversely affected for women having laparoscopic myomectomy (mean [standard deviation], 57 [24] laparoscopic vs 43 [19] open abdominal, p = .01). However, baseline symptom-severity scores were statistically similar (49 [22] for laparoscopic and 57 [20] for open abdominal, p = .08) approaches. Six to 12 months after surgery, both open abdominal and laparoscopic surgeries provided excellent and similar improvements in symptom-severity and quality of life (postoperative symptoms severity scores, mean [standard deviation], 20 [14] laparoscopic vs 13 [11] open abdominal, p = .24 and quality-of-life scores, mean [standard deviation], 91 [16] laparoscopic vs 88 [17] open abdominal, p = .49). These improvements were sustained for women who returned questionnaires up to 27 months of follow-up.Conclusion: Women with symptomatic myomas have a compromised quality of life, and they experience a similarly dramatic improvement in quality of life and decrease in symptom-severity after both laparoscopic and open abdominal myomectomies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In November 2014, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) calculated that for every 498 women having surgery for presumed fibroids, one woman would be found to have an occult leiomyosarcoma (LMS). The FDA issued a safety communication warning against the use of laparoscopicmorcellators in the majority of women undergoing myomectomy or hysterectomy for treatment of fibroids. This communication was prompted by concern that if a patient had an occult LMS, the morcellator might spread tumor cells within the peritoneal cavity. We submit that the FDA directive was based on a flawed and misleading analysis. More rigorous evidence estimates the prevalence of LMS among women operated upon for presumed uterine fibroids at approximately one in 2000 women, significantly lower than the FDA's estimate. In addition, there is no reliable evidence that morcellation influences survival or that power-morcellation is inferior to vaginal or mini-lap morcellation with a scalpel. Recent publication shows that open surgery carries more risk for women when compared with minimally invasive surgery. Although the possibility of occult LMS should be considered by women and their gynecologists, we suggest that current morcellation techniques be continued for women who wish to benefit from minimally invasive surgery. Investigation into new and, hopefully, better morcellating devices may make the procedure safer for women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effect of fibroids on fertility and of myomectomy in improving outcomes. Design: Systematic literature review and meta-analysis of existing controlled studies. Setting: Private center for Reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Patient(s): Women with fibroids and infertility. Intervention(s): A systematic literature review, raw data extraction and data analysis. Main Outcome Measure(s): Clinical pregnancy rate, spontaneous abortion rate, ongoing pregnancy/live birth rate, implantation rate, and preterm delivery rate in women with and without fibroids, and in women who underwent myomectomy. Result(s): Women with subserosal fibroids had no differences in their fertility outcomes compared with infertile controls with no myomas, and myomectomy did not change these outcomes compared with women with fibroids in situ. Women with intramural fibroids appear to have decreased fertility and increased pregnancy loss compared with women without such tumors, but study quality is poor. Myomectomy does not significantly increase the clinical pregnancy and live birth rates, but the data are scarce. Fibroids with a submucosal component led to decreased clinical pregnancy and implantation rates compared with infertile control subjects. Removal of submucous myomas appears likely to improve fertility. Conclusion(s): Fertility outcomes are decreased in women with submucosal fibroids, and removal seems to confer benefit. Subserosal fibroids do not affect fertility outcomes, and removal does not confer benefit. Intramural fibroids appear to decrease fertility, but the results of therapy are unclear. More high-quality studies need to be directed toward the value of myomectomy for intramural fibroids, focusing on issues such as size, number, and proximity to the endometrium. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To review the currently available literature regarding the current management alternatives available to women with uterine myomas. Design: Literature review of 198 articles pertaining to uterine myomas. Result(s): Many advances have been made in the management of uterine myomas. Watchful waiting; medical therapy; hysteroscopic myomectomy; endometrial ablation; laparoscopic myomectomy; abdominal myomectomy; abdominal, vaginal, and laparoscopic hysterectomy; uterine artery embolization; uterine artery occlusion; and focused ultrasound are now available. Conclusion(s): Many options are now available to women with uterine myomas. The presently available literature regarding the treatment of myomas is summarized. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To review the currently available literature regarding the biology, etiology, symptoms, and diagnosis of uterine myomas. Design: Literature review of 220 articles pertaining to uterine myomas. Result(s): Although uterine myomas presently are not well understood, many advances have been made in the understanding of the hormonal factors, genetic factors, growth factors, and molecular biology of these benign tumors. Prospective, longitudinal studies are underway to characterize the risk factors for their development. When needed, the position of myomas can be best imaged by sonohysterography or magnetic resonance imaging. Evidence suggests that only submucous myomas appear to interfere with fertility, and only very rarely do myomas effect pregnancy outcome. Conclusion(s): A summary of the available literature regarding the biology, etiology, symptomatology, and diagnosis of myomas shows that, although they are still not well understood, much has been learned about uterine myomas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article reports on the surgical procedure, myomectomy, in treating myomas in women. It states that abdominal or laparoscopic myomectomy offers a better approach in treating myomas in women still valuing fertility but it is not suitable for large myomas to be treated under laparoscopic myomectomy . Myomectomy under laparoscopic direction offers women uterine conservation options.