Abdominal myomectomy (by laparotomy or by laparoscopy) enables all the myomata to be excised while maintaining reproductive function. The actual risk of recurrence after abdominal myomectomy is difficult to assess because of methodological problems. Studies using life-table analysis find a cumulative risk of clinically significant recurrence of approximately 10% at 5 years for myomectomy by laparotomy. This risk probably underestimates the true prevalence of myomata as assessed by systematic ultrasound investigation. After laparoscopic myomectomy there appears to be a greater risk of recurrence. In one third of cases, recurrence becomes the reason for a hysterectomy. The risk of recurrence increases when there is more than one myoma. The use of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonists preoperatively could increase the risk of recurrence. Persistence or recurrence of the myoma thus reduces the chances of conception or taking a pregnancy full term after the myomectomy. It is essential to obtain the most complete exeresis possible in order to reduce the risk of recurrence to a minimum. However, it is inevitable that small, undetectable nuclei will remain within the myometrium whatever approach is used (laparoscopy or laparotomy). It would be an advantage to know what the growth factors are and how to identify groups at high risk of recurrence so that the treatment strategies could be better adapted and appropriate prophylactic methods developed.