Agreeing to fibroid surgery without asking the right questions first is one of the most common regrets women report in retrospect. These 12 questions give you the information you need to make a genuinely informed decision.
About the Procedure
1. “Exactly which fibroids are you removing, and why those specifically?” If you have multiple fibroids, understanding which ones are being targeted and why tells you a great deal about the surgical plan and its reasoning.
2. “Which surgical approach will you use — laparoscopic, hysteroscopic, or open — and why?” The approach determines recovery time and risk profile. If open surgery is planned, ask why a less invasive approach is not suitable for your situation.
3. “How many procedures of this type do you personally perform per year?” Surgical outcomes correlate with volume. A surgeon who performs 50 myomectomies a year has very different expertise from one who performs 5.
4. “What is your personal recurrence rate, and how do you define recurrence?” Population-level recurrence data is published; your specific surgeon’s outcomes are more relevant.
About Fertility
5. “How does this procedure affect my fertility specifically?” Not the general population statistics — your specific fibroid situation, uterine position, and planned surgical approach. See our article on fibroids and fertility for what to expect.
6. “Will you be using a morcellator? If so, what are the implications?” Power morcellation — cutting fibroids into small pieces for removal — is controversial due to potential spread of undetected malignant cells. Understand the approach and the risk discussion.
About Risks and Recovery
7. “What are the most common complications for this specific procedure, and what is their frequency?” Not the theoretical risk list — the actual frequency in your surgeon’s practice.
8. “What is the blood loss risk and what is the plan if significant haemorrhage occurs?” Myomectomy carries blood loss risk. Understanding the protocol for managing this is important, particularly for women with pre-existing anaemia. See our iron and anaemia guide.
9. “How long will recovery realistically take for someone with my job and lifestyle?” Not the minimum recovery — the realistic recovery for your specific situation. See our myomectomy recovery guide.
About Bone Health (If GnRH Pre-Treatment Is Planned)
About Alternatives
11. “Are there non-surgical options I haven’t yet tried that might be appropriate?” A surgeon you trust should be willing to discuss alternatives — UFE, hormonal management, watchful waiting — before defaulting to surgery.
12. “What happens if I choose not to have surgery right now?” Understanding the trajectory without intervention — what is likely to change over the next 12 months — is essential context for a timing decision. See our full treatment options comparison.
Read next If you want to understand the hormonal side of this, how estrogen drives fibroid growth — and what shifts it.