Safety and economical innovations regarding surgical treatment of fibroids

Uterine leiomyomas are the most frequent benign tumors of the female genital tract. Fibroids are associated with a variety of clinical problems, e.g. bleeding disorders, bulk-related symptoms or infertility. For women wishing to preserve their uterus, fibroids can be surgically removed by hysteroscopy, laparoscopy or laparotomy. The purpose of our review is to show that hysterectomy offers the only definitive solution. The indication for treatment has to be taken carefully after weighing up alternative treatment methods, such as expectant management, medical treatment or interventional radiologic methods, and after obtaining informed consent. The optimal method of treatment takes into account the patient's interests and wishes and the practical feasibility in the clinical setup. Surgical skills and experience play an important role as surgical procedures on the uterus are not without risk and can lead to severe complications. The decision to operate anticipates an improvement of the initial situation; therefore, the ideal surgical approach is of utmost importance.