🌿 Introduction
Your doctor looked you in the eye and said the words you had been dreading.
Surgery.
Maybe they said myomectomy. Maybe they said hysterectomy. Maybe they handed you a pamphlet and sent you home with more questions than answers.
And now you are doing what every smart woman does. You are researching. You are asking questions. You are trying to understand what you are actually agreeing to before you sign anything.
Good. Keep asking. Because there is a great deal your doctor may not have told you. Not because they are bad people. But because the medical system does not always make space for the full conversation you deserve to have.
This post is that conversation. 💚
🤔 First — What Are Your Actual Options?
Most women are told about two options. Surgery to remove fibroids or surgery to remove the uterus entirely. But there are actually three main treatment paths and most women are never fully informed about all of them.
Here is an honest breakdown of each one.
🔪 Option 1 — Myomectomy (Fibroid Removal Surgery)
A myomectomy removes the fibroids while leaving your uterus intact. This is the most common surgery recommended for women who want to preserve their fertility.
There are three types. A hysteroscopic myomectomy is less invasive and performed through the vagina for small fibroids inside the uterus. A laparoscopic myomectomy uses small incisions and is minimally invasive. An abdominal myomectomy is major surgery requiring a large incision similar to a C-section.
What your doctor may not tell you:
The majority of women who have a myomectomy experience the regrowth of fibroids and require additional surgery to remove them within 5 years. Liv Hospital
Myomectomy recurrence rate is between 10% to 30% in 5 years depending on how many and how big the fibroids were. Fibroid Institute
Myomectomy treats the symptom. It does not address the hormonal environment that grew the fibroids in the first place. Without changing that environment fibroids will often come back.
Recovery from abdominal myomectomy takes 4 to 6 weeks. Laparoscopic recovery is shorter at 2 to 4 weeks.
Read more: Why Fibroids Grow Back After Treatment
🗑️ Option 2 — Hysterectomy (Uterus Removal Surgery)
A hysterectomy removes the entire uterus. It is the only treatment that guarantees fibroids will never return because there is no longer a uterus for them to grow in.
Hysterectomy removes the whole uterus so the chance of recurrence is 0%. But it is usually for women who do not want to have kids. Fibroid Institute
What your doctor may not tell you:
In the United States alone over 600,000 hysterectomies are performed and only 10% of those are medically necessary. Liv Hospital
That is a staggering statistic. More than half a million women every year. Only 1 in 10 truly necessary.
According to a 2018 study published in the journal Menopause having a hysterectomy is associated with a long-term risk of cardiovascular and metabolic conditions especially when the patient is 35 years old or younger. This risk occurs even when the ovaries are conserved during the hysterectomy. BodyLogicMD
Hysterectomy is also irreversible. If you have any possibility of wanting children in the future this is a permanent decision. And Black women are disproportionately steered toward hysterectomy rather than being fully informed about less invasive options.
Recovery from abdominal hysterectomy takes 6 to 8 weeks.
Read more: Why Black Women Are 3x More Likely to Have Fibroids
💉 Option 3 — UFE (Uterine Fibroid Embolization)
This is the option most women are never told about at all. And it may be the most important one.
UFE is a minimally invasive nonsurgical procedure that blocks the blood supply to fibroids causing them to shrink. During the procedure a small catheter is inserted into an artery near your hip. Under imaging guidance medical beads are inserted through the catheter and into the blood vessels that feed your fibroid. The beads block the blood flow to your fibroid. UFE requires no cutting or large incisions. ATLII
UFE offers the shortest recovery time of the three. Two weeks is often cited as a broad recovery window although many women are back to their normal routines in five to seven days. Several days of cramps and tiredness after the procedure are normal as are some bleeding or spotting for a month or so. NICHD
In a meta-analysis of UFE versus all types of surgery researchers found no significant difference in patient satisfaction or major adverse events between UFE and any type of surgery. Georgia Endovascular
In plain language. UFE gets the same results as surgery without the surgery.
What your doctor may not tell you:
UFE had a higher rate of minor complications and necessity for additional surgical interventions. Within 2 years of initial therapy 7% of women after hysterectomy or myomectomy require further surgery whereas 15% to 32% require surgery after UFE. Georgia Endovascular
So UFE has a higher rate of needing a follow-up procedure compared to surgery. This is important to know going in.
UFE also does not remove the fibroids. It shrinks them by cutting off their blood supply. For most women this meaningfully reduces symptoms. But the fibroids remain in the body in a shrunken state.
📋 Side by Side Comparison — The Truth Table
😔 The Things Nobody Tells You Before Surgery
Here is the part of this post that most medical websites leave out. The honest, human truth about what surgery actually involves.
1. Surgery Does Not Fix the Root Cause
Fibroid removal surgery can result in bleeding, infection, scars, the need for an additional operation, bowel or urinary problems, fertility issues, and other complications. Before deciding on a surgical procedure make sure that you have evaluated all available types of treatment. BodyLogicMD
Surgery removes the fibroids. It does not remove the estrogen dominance, the chronic stress, the inflammatory diet, or the other conditions that grew them. Without addressing those root causes fibroids are very likely to return regardless of which procedure you choose.
2. You Have the Right to a Second Opinion
If your doctor recommends hysterectomy as a first option, you have every right to ask about myomectomy and UFE before making any decision. You have the right to consult a specialist. You have the right to take time. No fibroid situation is so urgent that you cannot take a few weeks to research your options.
Ask specifically: Am I a candidate for UFE? Can my fibroids be removed with a myomectomy instead of a hysterectomy? What are the least invasive options available to me?
3. Recovery Is Harder Than They Tell You
The pamphlet says 4 to 6 weeks. What it does not say is the first week can involve significant pain, fatigue, emotional processing, and complete dependence on others. Prepare your home, your support system, and your mindset before your procedure.
4. Your Emotional Health Matters Too
Many women experience a deep emotional response to fibroid surgery, especially hysterectomy. Grief, identity questions, and hormonal shifts are all real and valid parts of the recovery process. You deserve emotional support alongside physical care.
🌿 How to Support Your Body Before and After Surgery Naturally
Whether you choose surgery or not, supporting your body naturally before and after any procedure can meaningfully improve your recovery and reduce the chances of fibroid recurrence.
Before Surgery — Rebuild Your Iron Levels
Heavy fibroid bleeding before surgery often leads to anemia. Going into surgery with low iron increases your risk of complications and slows your recovery. Start rebuilding your iron stores at least 4 to 6 weeks before your procedure.
🛒 Recommended Product: [Slow Fe Iron Supplement — Low Side Effect Slow Release Formula]⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — A gentle slow-release iron supplement specifically designed for women with heavy periods. Much easier on the stomach than standard iron pills and highly effective at rebuilding depleted iron stores before and after fibroid surgery. Thousands of five-star reviews from women in exactly your situation.
After Surgery — Support Healing Sleep
Your body does its most powerful healing work during sleep. After fibroid surgery protecting deep restorative sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your recovery.
🛒 Recommended Product: [Pure Encapsulations Magnesium Glycinate] ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — Magnesium glycinate is one of the most effective natural supplements for supporting deep sleep, reducing post-surgical anxiety, calming muscle tension, and supporting the nervous system during recovery. Take 200 to 400mg before bed nightly starting the week before your surgery and continuing through your recovery.
After Surgery — Change Your Internal Environment
This is the most important post-surgery step and the one most doctors never mention. If you want your fibroids to stay gone after treatment, the hormonal environment that grew them must change.
Focus on an anti-inflammatory fibroid-friendly diet, stress management, Vitamin D supplementation, and liver support through dandelion root tea and cruciferous vegetables. These are the conditions that determine whether your fibroids grow back.
Read more: Fibroid-Friendly 7-Day Meal Plan Read more: The Hidden Link Between Stress and Fibroids Read more: Why Fibroids Grow Back After Treatment
💪 Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before Any Fibroid Procedure
Print this list and take it to your next appointment. You deserve answers to all of these.
Am I a candidate for UFE or another minimally invasive option?
What is the recurrence rate for the procedure you are recommending?
Will this procedure affect my fertility and in what way?
What are the short-term and long-term risks specific to my situation?
How many of this procedure have you personally performed?
What happens if I choose watchful waiting instead of surgery right now?
Are there any clinical trials I should know about?
What natural approaches can I use alongside or instead of surgery?
💚 You Are the Expert on Your Own Body
The most important thing to understand about fibroid surgery is this.
It is your body. It is your uterus. It is your decision.
No doctor, no matter how well-meaning, gets to make that decision for you. You deserve to be fully informed about every option available to you before you agree to anything.
Women are more educated than ever about their fibroid treatment options. UFE is quickly becoming the gold standard especially when considering that it is nonsurgical, offers faster recovery times, and yields effective outcomes. A fibroid specialist can help you weigh the pros and cons of all options and create a treatment plan tailored to you. Women's Health Network
Get the second opinion. Ask all the questions. Take the time you need.
And whatever path you choose, support your body with every natural tool available to you before, during, and after treatment. 💚
🎁 Ready to Go Deeper?
Download your FREE Fibroid Relief Guide for a complete natural approach to supporting your body today.
👉 Download Your Free Guide Here
⚠️ Medical Disclaimer
This post is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions about fibroid treatment. Only a medical professional can determine the best treatment plan for your individual situation.
This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission if you purchase through my links at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I genuinely believe support your healing journey. 💚
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