The Mayo Clinic states that as many as three out of four women will have noncancerous uterine fibroids, or fibroid tumors, sometime in their lives. Physicians commonly only discover fibroids during a regular examination, as the tumors often have no symptoms. When symptoms do exist, they include heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pressure or pain, frequent urination, back pain, constipation and long menstrual periods. Physicians may choose to treat the fibroid or just help alleviate the symptoms.
Watchful Waiting
Physicians treating a woman who has no signs or symptoms of uterine fibroids may choose not to aggressively treat the fibroid tumors but to watch and wait instead. Fibroids are not cancerous and they rarely interfere with a pregnancy, according to the American Pregnancy Association. In many cases, fibroids will shrink and disappear on their own without treatment. Many physicians choose to monitor patients over time rather than start a patient on medications with possible side effects. Physicians will monitor the growth of the fibroids. If patients begin to experience symptoms physicians will then discuss treatment options, which commonly include medications and sometimes surgery.
Gn-RH Agonists
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone, also known as Gn-RH, sets in motion events that stimulate estrogen and progesterone which trigger menstruation. Medications known as Gn-RH agonists act at the same sites that the hormone does but when taken as therapy, the medication has the opposite effect, causing the levels of estrogen and progesterone to fall. This causes menstruation to stop and causes fibroid tumors to shrink.
Intrauterine Device
An intrauterine device, also known as an IUD, is placed into the uterus and releases hormones that prevent unwanted pregnancies. According to the "New York Times" health guide, when used to treat fibroid tumors, the progesterone-releasing IUD can help reduce heavy bleeding and pain caused by the fibroids. An IUD will not cause uterine fibroids to shrink or disappear but instead help alleviate symptoms that can interrupt a woman's daily routine.
Myolysis
Myolysis is a procedure that destroys fibroid tumors with the use of electric current or laser. Surgeons use the electrical current to destroy the blood vessels that attach to the fibroid tumors, cutting off the necessary blood supply and causing the fibroids to die off. Surgeons may also perform a similar procedure called cryomyolisis in which nitrogen is used to sever the fibroid from its blood supply, causing it to die. Surgeons commonly perform this procedure in an outpatient medical center under general anesthesia.
Hysterectomy
A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus and as of 2010, is the only proven permanent solution for the treatment of uterine fibroids, according to the Mayo Clinic. Women undergoing a hysterectomy will no longer be able to bear children. If women have their ovaries removed this will likely bring on menopause, which may necessitate hormone replacement therapy. A hysterectomy is a major medical procedure and women should weigh the risks associated with the surgery against the health benefits before making a decision.
