Fibroid Treatment Options: What are My Choices?

Although fibroids are a common concern among women, there remains a lack of awareness regarding the range of treatment options available.

Many women mistakenly believe that a hysterectomy is the only solution for fibroids, overlooking alternative treatments that can avoid surgery altogether. Interested in exploring options beyond uterine removal? Here are seven effective ways to manage fibroids.

Exploring Fibroid Treatment Options

Despite many women's desires to preserve their uterus during fibroid treatment, hysterectomy remains prevalent. How can you steer clear of surgery and determine your optimal treatment? Begin by understanding the pros and cons of different procedures to make an informed choice aligned with your lifestyle. Consider your goals, focusing on symptom relief, fertility preservation, and overall treatment objectives.

Explore possible treatment options below.

1. WATCHFUL WAITING

Not every woman with fibroids will decide to shrink or remove the growths. Instead, you can treat your symptoms, waiting to see how you feel with this approach. Are your periods intense? Try managing cramps with hot water bottles and over-the-counter medications for pain, yoga, or exercise.

At the same time, you can make lifestyle changes that could shrink your fibroids. The goal is to reach your optimal weight since fat cells store excess estrogen and can worsen your fibroid symptoms. Also, get your blood pressure in the optimal range since there's a scientific link between high blood pressure and fibroids.

2. BIRTH CONTROL

Some forms of hormonal birth control can improve fibroid symptoms, but this option could also lead to fibroid growth. In some cases, an IUD may be a better choice for birth control with fibroids. Discuss your options with your doctor or one of our fibroid specialists in Dallas.

3. FIBROID MEDICATIONS

Relugolix is an FDA-approved medication that treats fibroid-related heavy bleeding. However, if you have a submucosal fibroid with a stalk, the medication could make your symptoms worse. That's why it's essential to know the location of your fibroids before choosing your treatment options.

GnRH agonists such as Lupron offer another fibroid treatment option. This type of medication temporarily shrinks fibroids by blocking estrogen production in the body. In the process, it can reduce symptoms such as heavy bleeding, but it also triggers a chemical menopause and increases the risk of osteoporosis if used for too long. For that reason, prescriptions are usually short-term and typically are a treatment option used just before a myomectomy.

4. ABLATION

Endometrial ablation destroys the lining of the uterus, reducing heavy bleeding without directly targeting fibroids.

5. Uterine Fibroid Embolization. (UFE)

This minimally invasive fibroid treatment option shrinks your growth by cutting off blood flow to the tumors.

6. MYOMECTOMY

This is a surgery that removes individual fibroids. The surgery won't impact fertility, but you have to delay pregnancy during a post-surgical recovery period that can last six months. Plus, fibroids often come back after the surgery.

UFE vs. Myomectomy

Now that we've reviewed two fibroid treatment options that target your tumors let's understand their key differences. Myomectomy surgically removes fibroids, while Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) shrinks them through a non-surgical procedure. And, with both treatments, you get to preserve your uterus. As a result, you can get pregnant after both fibroid treatment options. But that is not the case after a hysterectomy.

7. HYSTERECTOMY

This is surgery that removes your uterus. It offers a lasting cure for fibroids, and it's the only fibroid treatment option that does so. Unfortunately, it puts you in menopause and increases your risk for other health concerns. Therefore, we consider this treatment option a last resort for most women with fibroids.

Treating Fibroids without Surgery

We invite Dallas patients who want fibroid treatment options that avoid surgery to schedule a Uterine Fibroid Embolization consultation in our office. As we already reviewed, this is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure performed after we make a small incision in your femoral artery. Then, we inject embolic material to block fibroid blood flow, causing them to shrink.

Fibroid Treatment Options: What Does Recovery Look Like?

When considering your treatment options, it's important to consider what kind of recovery will be involved.

HYSTERECTOMY

Your recovery will be painful, and after surgery, you will abruptly enter menopause. You also face the risk of surgical complications.

UFE

During UFE recovery, you may notice abdominal pain or even flu-like symptoms. However, you won't have to worry about menopausal symptoms or surgical complications.

Ready to explore your fibroid treatment options? Come into our Dallas area fibroid center to see if UFE is right for you.