Uterine fibroids are quite common. No less than 20% of ladies can have a fibroid sooner or later of their lives, with some estimates reaching 70% or higher. Which means hundreds of thousands within the U.S. live with uterine fibroids on daily basis. And while some may not experience any symptoms in any respect, you could also be amongst those that cope with extremely heavy periods, pelvic pain or discomfort – or a variety of other uterine fibroid symptoms .
So, the massive query in your mind could also be: What are my uterine fibroid treatment options?
Luckily, there are several treatment options available that work for each variety of fibroid, and the perfect combination of treatments will rely on several aspects. Your doctor will work with you to determine the treatment option based in your age, the symptoms you are experiencing, your pregnancy goals, and the scale and site of your fibroids. Keep reading to learn more about your uterine fibroid treatment options.
Conservative uterine fibroid treatments
It’s very vital on your doctor to understand the severity of your symptoms because it will help determine how and when to treat your fibroids. There are several ways to remove or shrink uterine fibroids, but in case your symptoms are nonexistent or mild, your doctor may recommend a more conservative treatment plan.
Watchful waiting
Watchful waiting is similar to it sounds. A health care provider may suggest simply waiting to see how or in case your fibroids progress in size, multiply or in case your symptoms worsen. During this waiting period, your doctor will periodically evaluate your symptoms. As fibroids are usually not cancerous, this typically presents no health risks – although it is crucial to talk to your doctor in case your symptoms worsen.
Hormonal intrauterine device (IUD)
An IUD is primarily used for longer-term pregnancy prevention, but hormonal IUDs will also be used to help reduce fibroid-related symptoms like heavy bleeding and painful periods.
Uterine fibroid medications
While medications won’t cause fibroids to go away completely on their very own, some – like oral contraception or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories – can reduce the severity of some fibroid symptoms, like pain and heavy bleeding during times. Other medications which may be really useful include:
Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers
For mild pain or discomfort, taking nonprescription anti-inflammatory medicines like ibuprofen may provide enough relief to help manage your symptoms – particularly painful cramps during your period.
Tranexamic acid (Lysteda, Cyklokapron)
Tranexamic acid is a drugs that may be taken every month during your period on days of heavy bleeding to reduce menstrual flow.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists
Estrogen and progesterone may cause uterine fibroid growth. So, blocking these hormones can assist shrink uterine fibroids.
Depending in your age and if fibroid surgery is an element of your treatment plan, your doctor may recommend GnRH agonists for a brief period of time. This medication puts your body in a short lived menopausal state by blocking estrogen and progesterone. Within the short-term, this medication may be very effective at shrinking fibroids. It’s not really useful for prolonged use as it could possibly cause bone loss and other unwanted side effects.
Noninvasive uterine fibroid treatments
Depending in your symptoms and pregnancy goals, your doctor may recommend a noninvasive treatment option that requires no incision and may be performed as outpatient care.
MRI-guided focused ultrasound
This uterine fibroid treatment brings two therapies together: focused ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). During this procedure, a high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) pinpoints the fibroid and destroys the expansion cells without damaging surrounding tissue by raising the temperature of the targeted area. MRIs are used to guide and control the treatment, allowing doctors to be precise and effective in targeting uterine fibroids.
Minimally invasive treatments
Certain minimally invasive procedures can dissolve uterine fibroids without surgically removing them, which also can reduce risks of complications. To assist relieve or minimize uterine fibroids and their symptoms, or increase your probabilities of pregnancy, your doctor may recommend the next minimally invasive treatment options.
Uterine artery embolization
Uterine fibroids need a blood or “nutrient” source to grow. A uterine artery embolization is a minimally invasive procedure that cuts off the blood supply to a fibroid, causing it to shrink and for symptoms to ease.
This uterine fibroid treatment is usually really useful when the growths are causing pain or fullness in your abdomen or during sexual activity, in addition to infertility, anemia and certain other symptoms. But it surely’s not normally really useful for big fibroids.
Radiofrequency ablation
This process uses radio waves to create a current that heats a small area of nerve tissue. The warmth destroys that area of the nerve, stopping it from sending pain signals to your brain. This treatment is particularly helpful in case your fibroids cause you general pain or produce very painful cramping during your periods.
Endometrial ablation
An endometrial ablation doesn’t shrink fibroids like other procedures, slightly it helps reduce heavy menstrual bleeding which may be attributable to them. During this treatment, your doctor will insert a specialized instrument into your uterus to remove your uterine lining called the endometrium, which is liable for blood flow. With the endometrium removed, you will likely experience normal or light menstrual bleeding.
For individuals who hope to develop into pregnant in the long run, this treatment will not be really useful. The endometrium is where a fertilized egg implants itself, eventually forming a reference to the placenta to supply a baby with what it needs to grow.
Uterine fibroid surgery
In case your symptoms are severe, or the quantity, size or location of your fibroids is concerning, your doctor may recommend surgery as well as to other less invasive treatments. Severe symptoms may include anemia from heavy fibroid bleeding, or problems together with your urinary tract or bowel.
Surgery may be really useful if you have multiple fibroids, or very deep or large fibroids. Typically, imaging tests like an MRI are done to evaluate the scale of the growths to determine if surgery is an excellent option.
Sorts of uterine fibroid surgeries
When discussing uterine fibroid surgery together with your doctor, your pregnancy goals are a key factor. Your doctor will use this information to guide your treatment plan. Because while a myomectomy can assist your probabilities of becoming pregnant in the long run, a hysterectomy is a everlasting treatment option that may prevent you from ever getting pregnant.
Myomectomy
This surgery takes out fibroids while preserving the uterus. It’s often used to remove submucosal fibroids, that are those which might be attached to the uterine lining, and sometimes really useful for those experiencing signs of infertility and hoping to develop into pregnant in the long run.
A myomectomy may be done through laparoscopy or laparotomy. During a laparoscopy, your surgeon will make a small incision within the abdomen, inflate the realm with a harmless gas, and insert a laparoscope (a slim instrument with a camera) to remove the fibroids. A laparotomy is a more major surgery that uses a bigger abdominal incision to access the fibroids. This is good for treating every variety of fibroid but is particularly helpful for big or low-visibility fibroids.
Laparoscopy and laparotomy are two surgical procedures which might be also utilized in endometriosis treatment.
Hysterectomy
When there are plenty of large masses present or uterine fibroids proceed to grow back after other treatments, your doctor may recommend a full or partial hysterectomy to remove the uterus together with the growths. That is the one way to cure fibroids entirely, nevertheless it’s probably the most invasive surgery option.
For those hoping to develop into pregnant, this procedure will not be really useful because it removes the womb.
Uterine fibroid surgery recovery: What to expect
Most uterine fibroid treatment surgeries are performed as an outpatient procedure, which implies most individuals are able to go home to get well on the identical day as a surgery. A number of overnight stays at a hospital are sometimes needed if you have certain underlying conditions or your insurance requires it.
The primary week or so after surgery, your incision area will likely feel sore. But the standard recovery time after having uterine fibroid removal surgery is 4-6 weeks, which implies your incisions needs to be healed by then. Nevertheless, it’s vital to follow your doctor’s post-surgery instructions reminiscent of refraining from lifting, pushing or pulling heavy objects.
Risks with uterine fibroid surgery
Uterine fibroid surgery is mostly considered protected. But like all surgical procedures, there are all the time some risks. Typically, the potential for infection is the largest concern, but your care team takes every possible step to minimize this risk. This can also be why it’s vital to follow post-surgery care instructions.
Other possible risks can include scar tissue, regrowth of fibroids and the prevention of future pregnancy. If you have specific questions on the risks of uterine fibroid surgeries, talk to your doctor.
Get a customized uterine fibroid treatment plan
While a diagnosis of uterine fibroids may be scary, it could possibly also develop into the sunshine at the tip of the tunnel. It opens the door to understanding your body and provides you the chance for treatment.
In case your symptoms are mild, your primary care doctor or OB-GYN can guide you through a more conservative treatment plan. But when minimally invasive or surgical treatments could also be needed, an OB-GYN can provide that more advanced care.
Whether you’re on the lookout for relief out of your symptoms or hoping to develop into pregnant, your uterine fibroids don’t have to stop you from living the life you want.