Best Fibroid Treatment Options

How do I decide on a treatment plan for my uterine fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are extremely common, affecting at least 70 percent of women. Fibroids are benign tumors of the uterus which never transform into cancer. Symptoms usually arise from enlargement of the fibroids, or from the location of the fibroid within the uterine cavity. Size and location can be determined by ultrasound or MRI.

Treatment is indicated when fibroids cause either significant anemia from uterine bleeding, or interfere with the quality of life. Hysterectomy is not the only treatment option - alternatives include the progesterone-releasing IUD (Mirena); endometrial ablation (heat treatment of the uterine cavity); removal of fibroids by myomectomy surgery (abdominal, laparoscopic, hysteroscopic); uterine artery embolization (UAE); and MRI-focused ultrasound. Myomectomy and hysterectomy can be safely performed as an outpatient procedure by physicians who specialize in laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery.

Most importantly, the final treatment plan should be determined after the pros and cons of each alternative have been explained and are understood. Note that some of these options are not appropriate for women who want to have children in the future. Unique for each woman, the final plan will always have to consider the size, number, and position of the uterine fibroids.