Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery Center

The Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS) Center at Massachusetts General Hospital is dedicated to providing individualized, minimally invasive surgery options to diagnose and treat the full range of gynecologic conditions and improve our patients’ quality of life.

Minimally Invasive, Personalized Treatment

Minimally invasive surgical procedures are associated with significantly less blood loss during surgery, less scarring, less postoperative pain and faster recovery than traditional open surgery. This allows patients to recover faster and return to their lives and daily activities with improved quality of life.

Read our Frequently Asked Questions to learn more about minimally invasive surgical procedures.

Treating the Full Range of Conditions

Depending on your personal history and symptoms, our expert physicians may recommend one or a combination of minimally invasive treatments to address your individual condition. The MIGS Center team treats gynecologic conditions including:

• Adenomyosis
• Bleeding issues, including abnormal bleeding, heavy or abnormal periods (menorrhagia), and peri- or post-menopausal bleeding
• Cervical or endometrial polyps
• Endometriosis
• Ovarian cysts and pelvic masses
• Painful periods (dysmenorrhea)
• Pelvic pain and pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
• Pelvic scar tissue (adhesions)
• Simple or complex ovarian cysts
• Teratomas/dermoids
• Tubo-ovarian abscess
• Uterine fibroids

What to Expect

New patients at the Mass General MIGS Center will be connected with a surgeon or member of our team. Our consultation process involves a thorough discussion of treatment options, both innovative and traditional, that are uniquely suited to address individual conditions and medical history. Our patients are integral members of their care teams. Patients work directly with their physicians to develop an optimal treatment plan. Patient questions and feedback are an important part of each visit.

We also welcome patients and physicians who are seeking a second opinion on treatment options for any gynecologic condition.

Conditions We Treat

Depending on your personal history and symptoms, your surgeon and care team may recommend one or a combination of the following minimally invasive treatments to address your individual condition

Common conditions we treat include:

• Fibroids: Common uterine muscle tumors that can lead to abnormal menstruation, pelvic pain and pressure, infertility, abnormal uterine bleeding, or other symptoms
  • The MIGS program treats fibroids via myomectomy (surgical removal of fibroids), radio frequency ablation, uterine fibroid embolization, or surgical removal of the uterus.
  • We work in collaboration with the Fertility Center’s Fibroid Program, Gynecology, and Interventional Radiology
• Endometriosis: Endometrial-like tissue that exists outside of the uterus often in other regions of the pelvis, bowel, ovary. It can lead to pelvic pain, painful intercourse, painful bowel movements, infertility, abnormal uterine bleeding, or ovarian cysts
  • The MIGS program treats endometriosis via laparoscopic excision of the endometriosis including uterine-sparing surgery that removes the disease
  • We work in collaboration with our colleagues in Gynecology, Fertility Center, including fertility preservation program, Colorectal, Urology, Thoracic, Gastrointestinal, and pelvic pain specialists
• Adenomyosis: Endometrial tissue in the muscle wall of the uterus that can lead to infertility, abnormal uterine bleeding, or pelvic pain
  • The MIGS program treats adenomyosis via hysterectomy and uterine-sparing procedures, when feasible, including adenomyoma resection and uterine artery embolism
  • We work in collaboration with the Fertility Center and Interventional Radiology.

Hysteroscopic and transcervical procedures

Hysteroscopy is a technique for visually examining the inside of the uterus and treating a variety of intra-uterine conditions without making incisions. A long, thin telescope-like instrument (called a hysteroscope) is inserted through the vagina and cervix. A small video camera attached to the end of the telescope gives the doctor a magnified view on a video monitor. Transcervical procedures are also performed without need for incisions.

Laparoscopic Procedures

Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive, video-guided technique. Instead of making a large incision through the skin and underlying muscles (called laparotomy), a laparoscopic procedure requires three to four small incisions: one for a long, narrow telescope with a camera attached, and two or three others for the instruments needed to perform a procedure. 

Robotic procedures

Robotic surgery is a type of laparoscopic surgery. The surgeon makes three to four small incisions: one for a magnified, high-definition 3-D camera that guides the surgeon during the procedure, and two or three others for the robotic instruments that allow the surgeon maximum range of motion and surgical precision. The surgeon controls the instruments and the camera from a console located next to the patient in the operating room.

Vaginal Procedures

Vaginal surgery is a procedure that is performed within the vagina to remove the uterus, cervix or ovaries and tubes; or repair the vaginal tissue that supports the bladder, rectum and uterus. The procedures are performed vaginally so there are no abdominal incisions:

• Cystocele & rectocele repair

• Hysterectomy

Frequently Asked Questions