Version July 2025
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What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.
What is a myomectomy? —
This is surgery to remove 1 or more fibroids. Fibroids are abnormal growths that form in the muscle of the uterus (figure 1).
A myomectomy can be done in 3 ways:
●Open surgery – The doctor makes a cut, or "incision," in the belly to remove the fibroids.
●Minimally invasive surgery – The doctor makes smaller incisions in the belly. They insert long, thin tools through the incisions. One of the tools has a camera (called a "laparoscope") on the end, which sends pictures to a TV screen. The doctor can look at the screen to see inside the belly. Then, they use the long tools to do the surgery. They can control the tools directly, or with the help of a robot (called "robot-assisted" surgery).
●Vaginal or "hysteroscopic" surgery – The doctor uses a camera or other tools to remove the fibroids. No incisions are needed.
How long it takes for you to recover, and what you need to do, depends on which type of surgery you had. If you had minimally invasive or vaginal surgery, you might be able to return to your normal activities sooner. With open surgery, it usually takes longer to recover.
How do I care for myself at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure that you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
For the first 24 hours after surgery:
●Do not drive or operate heavy or dangerous machinery.
●Do not make any important decisions or sign any important papers.
●Do not drink alcohol of any kind.
You should also:
●Expect to have some vaginal bleeding. This should get lighter over a few weeks. You might also have some cramping.
●Take all of your medicines as instructed.
•Use a stool softener to help prevent constipation, if needed. This is a common problem if you take opioid pain medicines. Follow all instructions for taking your pain medicines.
•Take non-prescription medicines to relieve pain, such as acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve). These can be used instead of opioids.
●Take care of your incision – You might have stitches, staples, skin glue, or special skin tape to hold your incisions closed. If you had minimally invasive surgery, you might have more than 1 incision.
•Keep your incision dry and covered with a bandage for the first 1 to 2 days after surgery. Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how long to keep it dry.
•Once you no longer need to keep it dry, gently wash it with soap and water whenever you take a shower. Do not put your incision underwater, such as in a bath, pool, or lake. This can slow healing and raise your chance of getting an infection.
•After you wash your incision, pat it dry. Your doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to put an antibiotic ointment on it. They will also tell you if you need to cover it with a bandage or gauze.
•Always wash your hands before and after you touch your incision or bandage.
●Increase your activity slowly – Start with short walks around your home, and walk a little more each day.
•Use your incentive spirometer (if you got one) after you go home. This is a handheld device that you breathe into. This helps prevent lung infections.
•If you had open surgery, press a pillow across your incision when you cough, sneeze, or take deep breaths. This supports the wound and helps ease pain.
•Your doctor or nurse will talk with you about how long to avoid activities like heavy lifting, sports, or swimming. The length of time is based on what type of surgery you had (laparoscopic, open, or vaginal).
●Eat when you are hungry – If you have an upset stomach, it might help to start with clear liquids and foods that are easy to digest, like soup, pudding, toast, or eggs. You can eat other types of foods when you feel ready. If your doctor or nurse gave you specific instructions about what to eat or avoid, follow them.
●Be aware that if you had minimally invasive surgery, you might have some pain in your shoulder. This is from gas the doctor put into your belly during surgery. Walking and moving around helps reduce the gas and ease the pain.
What follow-up care do I need? —
The doctor will want to see you again after surgery to check on your progress. Go to these appointments.
If you have stitches, you might need to have them taken out. Your doctor will usually want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks. However, some stitches absorb on their own and do not need to be removed.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if you have:
●A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills
●Redness or swelling around your incisions
●Vomiting for more than 24 hours after going home
●So much vaginal bleeding that you soak a large pad in an hour
●Any other concerns or symptoms that worry you
What else should I know? —
Sometimes, fibroids can come back after myomectomy. If this happens, you might need more surgery.
Patient education: Myomectomy (The Basics)
Patient education: Uterine fibroids (The Basics)
Patient education: Hysterectomy (The Basics)
Patient education: Cesarean birth (The Basics)
Patient education: Uterine fibroids (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Vaginal hysterectomy (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: C-section (cesarean birth) (Beyond the Basics)
