US Woman Advised Hysterectomy Keeps Fertility After Surgeons Remove 656 Fibroids in Shenzhen

A 35-year-old American woman who endured severe menstrual pain for more than two decades and was advised by US doctors to have her uterus removed has successfully undergone fertility-preserving surgery in Shenzhen, China, which removed 656 fibroids, Shenzhen TV reported today.

Identified as Anna (pseudonym), the patient began suffering from heavy menstruation, severe cramps, dizziness, fatigue and frequent urination at age 12. She was diagnosed with multiple uterine growths in 2018 and underwent myomectomy in the US, but suffered life-threatening intra- and post-operative bleeding requiring multiple blood transfusions.

Her fibroids returned aggressively, causing abdominal distension and visible masses. Last year, she collapsed from excessive blood loss and needed emergency transfusion. She was later diagnosed with a severe condition where many non-cancerous growths spread throughout the wall of her uterus.

Doctors in the US told Anna her only options were to live with the condition or undergo a total hysterectomy. Unmarried and childless, she refused to give up her fertility and sense of physical integrity.

On the advice of a friend from Fujian, Anna traveled to China. Doctors at Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital first treated her severe anemia before referring her to Professor Wu Ruifang's team at Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, which specializes in fertility-sparing surgery for diffuse uterine fibroids.

Unlike US physicians, the Chinese team offered a path to preserve her uterus, outlining the procedure, risks and even post-operative fertility planning.

The hospital's obstetrics and gynecology center is one of the earliest in China to perform uterus-preserving surgery for diffuse fibromatosis. Unlike conventional fibroids, diffuse lesions lack clear capsules and blend into normal tissue, making complete removal highly difficult. For years, hysterectomy was the global standard.

After 15 years of research, Professor Wu's team developed the PUSH (Protection of Uterine Structures for Healing) technique, which removes tumors while protecting uterine anatomy and fertility.

Nearly 600 patients from China and abroad have received the surgery. Average pain scores dropped from 9.5 to 0.9, and all of them saw reduced heavy bleeding. Among those seeking pregnancy, 60 percent have given birth to healthy babies.

Anna's case was extremely complex: She weighed 98 kilos with a 128cm hip circumference, limiting surgical visibility; her uterus was enlarged to the size of a four-month pregnancy; fibroids ranged from over 10cm to nearly invisible micro-lesions; and previous surgery left severe abdominal adhesions.

Surgeons carefully dissected adhesions and meticulously removed tumors layer by layer from the fundus to the cervix. The operation successfully removed 656 fibroids, not including additional small nodules embedded within larger ones.

Anna recovered well and was discharged on March 17 following full re-evaluation.

"I regret not coming here sooner," she said. From facing the loss of her uterus to regaining fertility, Anna called the treatment a "second life" thanks to the skill and care of Shenzhen's medical team.