Fibroids have a remarkable talent for being common and almost never discussed. They are non-cancerous growths in the muscle of the womb, and plenty of women have them, often without knowing. Then one day a scan mentions one, or symptoms become hard to ignore, and the conversation becomes sudden and technical.
When you start searching for fibroid removal surgery in Singapore, a screenful of options and medical words appears at once. It helps enormously to arrive at your appointment with a short list of questions. This article offers one, along with a little context for each, so that you can leave with answers and not just a leaflet.
First, What Are the Options
Not every fibroid needs surgery. Whether treatment is advised depends on your symptoms, the size and position of the fibroids, your age, and whether you hope to have children. In some cases, a doctor may suggest monitoring them, or a non-surgical approach.
When surgery is discussed, two names come up most. A myomectomy removes the fibroids and leaves the uterus in place. A hysterectomy removes the uterus entirely. They are very different operations with very different consequences, so it is worth being certain which one is being proposed.
Questions About the Womb Itself
The question that matters most to many women is also the simplest. Will I keep my uterus? If you hope to have children, say so clearly, and ask how each option affects that. Ask what the difference is between removing the fibroids and removing the womb, and what each means for periods and fertility.
It is also perfectly reasonable to ask about the emotional side. Surgery on the womb can bring up feelings that surprise people, and a good doctor will not find the question strange.
Questions About Recovery
Recovery depends on the type of operation, and on your own health. Keyhole approaches and open surgery differ in how they are done, and that can affect how long you are off your feet. Rather than rely on a number from the internet, ask your doctor what to expect in your case.
Ask about time away from work, when you can lift, drive and exercise again, and what pain relief is planned. Ask for these in writing if you can, so that you are not trying to remember them from a recovery bed.
Questions About the Money
Costs are worth raising early. Ask for a written estimate, and ask what it covers. Ask what part may be claimable through insurance or MediSave, and what you will need to pay yourself.
Please do not rely on a figure you read online, including here. Limits and rules change, and your own policy has its own terms. Your doctor’s team and your insurer are the places to check.
A List to Take Along
It is easy to forget things in a consultation room, so write these down.
- What are my options, including monitoring or non-surgical approaches?
- Which procedure do you suggest for me, and why?
- Will I keep my uterus, and how does this affect my chances of having children?
- What will recovery look like, and when can I return to normal activities?
- What are the possible risks and side effects?
- What will it cost, and what might insurance or MediSave cover?
After the Operation
Ask what follow-up care you will need and when. Ask whether fibroids can return, and whether anything is likely to change your hormones, for example if the ovaries are involved in the surgery. Ask what you should eat and avoid afterwards, but treat general lists of dos and don’ts with some caution unless your doctor confirms them for you.
Most of all, ask for the plan in your own language, not the textbook’s. A doctor who can explain a fibroid in plain words has usually thought about it carefully.