Fibroid treatment options include hormonal treatment, minimally invasive procedures and surgery. Nonsymptomatic fibroids may not need treatment.

Uterine fibroids, which are rarely cancerous, affect up to 50% of women in the United States and can cause pressure or pain in the pelvis and on the pelvic floor. They also can cause heavy or prolonged periods when they are on the inner wall of the uterus.

They are more common in Black women, often occurring at younger ages than in white women. If you are African American, you also are more likely to have more fibroids or larger fibroids.

If fibroids are detected during a pelvic exam, an ultrasound can confirm the diagnosis.

As a center of excellence for laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery, Norton Healthcare’s experienced providers use state-of-the-art technology to customize treatment based on fibroid location, size, symptoms, a patient’s age and their preferences.

Fibroid Treatment Options

• Hormone therapy – Because fibroids rely on hormones to grow, your health care provider may prescribe birth control pills or other hormones that may help control heavy bleeding. This provides only temporary treatment and will not get rid of fibroids. In women who’ve reached menopause, the fibroid may decrease in size naturally because the body has stopped producing hormones.
• Uterine fibroid embolization – Also known as UFE, this minimally invasive fibroid treatment option preserves the uterus and allows most patients to go home the same day. Using imaging technology, an interventional radiologist inserts a small catheter through the groin into the artery that supplies blood to the fibroid. Tiny particles — smaller than a grain of sand — are injected through the catheter to block blood flow to the fibroids, causing them to shrink. To be a candidate for UFE, patients generally have heavy bleeding, pain and/or symptoms caused by the fibroid pressing on other organs, such as the bladder or bowel. You will need a referral to the Pelvic Health Program from your provider if you are interested in UFE.
• Myomectomy – The fibroids are removed while keeping the reproductive organs. Depending on the size of the fibroids, this can be performed through a few small incisions (laparoscopically), with robotic-assisted equipment or through a traditional open abdominal surgery.
• Hysterectomy – This is a major surgery to remove the uterus and fibroids. Depending on the size of the fibroids, this can be performed laparoscopically, with robotic-assisted equipment, through the vagina, or through a traditional open abdominal surgery. This fibroid treatment option is the only sure way fibroids cannot come back.