Uterine fibroids are a very common affection among ladies in childbearing age – a condition that manifests in many forms, most typically with menstrual problems, such as long and painful periods and pelvic pain during ovulation. Uterine fibroids are quite easy to diagnose – all it takes is an ultrasound exam –, but finding the right treatment solution and UFE procedure can be challenging. Here are some of the options:
- Watchful waiting – uterine fibroids produce symptoms in about half of the cases, being usually discovered during routine pelvic exams. If the symptoms are mild or the fibroids are asymptomatic, the patient’s condition is usually just monitored, without any treatment;
- Medication – uterine fibroids are closely related to the production of estrogen and progesterone, therefore the medications proposed for the treatment of fibroids are usually aimed at reducing the production of these hormones;
- Surgical interventions – uterine fibroids can also be treated through surgery, either through minimally invasive procedures aimed to cut off the blood supply to the fibroids to shrink them and eliminate them or through more radical interventions, such as laparoscopic myomectomy or, in more severe cases, the removal of the entire uterus (a procedure called radical hysterectomy). The method that works best depends on the number, the size and the position of the fibroids.
