Uterine Fibroid Treatment

Uterine fibroid is a common form of benign, non-cancerous tumor that occurs in the walls of the uterus. Uterine fibroids vary in size from that of a peanut to a football. Symptoms are based on the size of the tumor. There may be no symptoms or there may be symptoms of back and leg pain, heavy bleeding, abdominal pressure, discomfort, abdominal enlargement, frequent urination or heavy menstrual bleeding.

Significance

• Uterine fibroids are also called myomas, fibromyomas or leiomyomas. They are associated with a woman's child bearing years, and they never develop into a cancerous tumor. Over thirty percent of women have had fibroid tumors sometime in their life; most are not aware of it because some fibroids are found only during a physical examination. Treatment for uterine fibroids varies from no treatment to a variety of options, as noted below.

Observation

• Careful observation is the approach to treating a uterine fibroid that is not causing any discomfort or symptoms. Uterine fibroids grow at a slow pace; as menopause approaches and the reproductive hormones decrease, uterine fibroids shrink. So the option of wait and see is a valid and popular treatment choice by doctors for most women who have fibroids that are not affecting their health.

Medication

• Medications used for treating uterine fibroids include Progestin, released via an intrauterine device (IUD). This drug helps to relieve heavy bleeding and pain. Gonadotropin decreases the hormone levels of estrogen and progesterone, causing menstruation to stop and the fibroids to shrink, while androgens are used to reduce the fibroid symptoms.

Surgery

• The two surgical procedures used to treat uterine fibroids are a hysterectomy or a myomectomy Both of these surgical procedures have their advantages and disadvantages. A hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus. This is an absolute cure for uterine fibroids. The disadvantages are that the chance of having children is lost and, unless you elect to keep your ovaries, menopause will occur.
  In a myomectomy, only the fibroids are removed, leaving the uterus intact, which will allow for future child bearing. The disadvantage of a myomectomy is that the fibroids could return, unlike in a hysterectomy.

Other Treatment Techniques

• There are other treatment techniques used to shrink and destroy uterine fibroids. These include endometrial ablation, a process to stop the bleeding. Uterine artery embolization is an effective technique done by an interventional radiologist, who cuts off the blood supply to the fibroids and shrinks them.
  If you should ever need to make a decision about uterine fibroids, become your best patient advocate by learning all you can about uterine fibroids and their treatment to make the best choice.