CIGC Launches Infertility Series: Infertility and Fibroids
PART I- Infertility and Fibroids: Expert Surgical Management Increases Pregnancy Rates
Uterine fibroids are a very common cause of infertility among patients wanting pregnancy. Infertility specialists routinely refer their patients to The Center for Innovative GYN Care, for surgical removal of fibroids that increase the success rates of spontaneous pregnancy, intrauterine insemination, and in vitro fertilization.
How the Presence of Fibroids Can Cause Infertility
Fibroids located near the uterine cavity, in the uterine cavity, or involving the fallopian tubes can significantly affect pregnancy rates.
- If fibroids are near or in the cavity, the chance of the embryo (the sperm and the egg combined) implanting into the uterine lining is low.
Removal of these fibroids helps to allow for increased success of the embryo implanting and growing into a baby.
- Fibroids partially obstructing fallopian tubes can prevent the embryo from travelling to the uterine cavity, thereby preventing pregnancy.
Removal of these fibroids allows the tubes to become “open” so the embryo can travel to the cavity for implantation.
CIGC uses two types of procedures to safely remove fibroids.
What is LAAM? The LAAM procedure is the best minimally invasive operation available for removing all of the fibroids in the uterus, especially those that are near the uterine cavity or the tubes.
– Known as laparoscopically assisted myomectomy, LAAM uses only two incisions to remove fibroids of all sizes.
– The first incision is at the belly button, and is only ¼ of an inch in size.
– The second incision is located at the bikini line, usually 3 cm in size, or about an inch and a quarter.
What are the advantages of LAAM for the removal of fibroids compared to other methods? LAAM procedures offer many more benefits compared to other laparoscopic or robotic approaches, including: smaller overall incision size, removal of all fibroids, faster recovery, better uterine closure, and the ability to begin trying to become pregnant faster.
– Being able to feel and remove all fibroids present
– The use of standard uterine closure to ensure the best closure of the uterus possible after fibroid removal.
– Removal of fibroids without the use of power morcellators
– LAAM operations incorporate incisions with a total length smaller than robotic or laparoscopic approaches, with discharge home the same day and a recovery of only 10 to 14 days. The incisions are located cosmetically, and are never located in the upper abdomen with robotic or laparoscopic approaches.
– Most patients are up and moving the next day.
The second type of fibroid removal is limited to fibroids located in the uterine cavity. Patients need to understand that very few patients are actually good candidates for hysteroscopic removal of fibroids. If the fibroid localized to the cavity is small to moderate in size, and the patient does not have many other fibroid present, this approach can be used. The fibroid is removed through the vagina with no incisions required. The recovery is only one to two days.