Appropriate treatment depends on the size and location of the fibroids as well as severity of symptoms. If a woman is not experiencing symptoms, her doctor will most likely suggest watchful waiting – checking the fibroid at annual gynecological examinations and monitoring for symptoms. If symptoms develop, treatment options include:

Drug therapy consists of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen (Motrin) or naproxen sodium (Naprosyn) and hormonal therapy with birth control pills or Gonadotropin releasing hormones(GnRH) analogs such as (Lupron). Gonadotropin releasing hormones(GnRH) analogs such as Lupron are administered with an injection by your gynecologist. These synthetic hormones reduce the level of estrogen within the body creating a menopause-like state. The result is reduced blood flow to the uterus and fibroids causing shrinkage. GnRH analogs are only temporarily effective due to the side effects of hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings and decrease in bone density(osteoporosis) that lead to discontinuation. Fibroids regrow to their enlarged size and symptoms return in approximately 4-6 months after discontinuation of Lupron therapy.

These procedures include uterine fibroid embolization and MRI guided focused ultrasound. Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is a safe non-surgical procedure that effectively treats fibroid symptoms by blocking or cutting off the blood flow to the fibroids. This minimally-invasive procedure is performed by an interventional radiologist, a physician who is specially trained to perform this and other minimally-invasive procedures MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound is a new non-surgical treatment that is available at limited locations at this time. This procedure is currently not offered at DeKalb Medical Center since it is still considered experimental.

Surgical treatments include myomectomy and hysterectomy which are major operations requiring general anesthesia, approximately 3 – 4 days of hospitalization and 6 – 8 weeks for recovery. Myomectomy surgically removes visible fibroids from the uterine wall. The uterus is not removed, thus preserving a woman’s ability to have children. Myomectomy is less effective when a woman has multiple fibroids. As many as 30% of these patient’s will have recurrence of fibroids. Hysterectomy, on the other hand, effectively treats fibroids by surgically removing the entire uterus. As a result, women lose the ability to have children. Approximately, 600,000 hysterectomies are performed in the United States every year. One third of these surgeries are performed for fibroids.