Is surgery the only way to treat uterine fibroid tumors?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz answered:Surgery is not necessary for all uterine fibroids. Certain medicines or simple monitoring may be advised in some cases. Watch the video to learn more about treatments for fibroids.
Surgery is not necessary for all uterine fibroids. Certain medicines or simple monitoring may be advised in some cases. Watch the video to learn more about treatments for fibroids. More -
Dr. Stanley J. Filip of Duke Medicine answered:No. Several minimally invasive and non-invasive procedures are now available, enabling many women with fibroids to forego the traditional surgical treatments—hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) and myomectomy (excision of individual fibroids)—and reduce their recovery time, risk of complications, and pain. These leading-edge procedures include MRI-guided focused ultrasound (a non-surgical way to remove fibroids while protecting surrounding tissue); laparoscopic and hysteroscopic myomectomy (minimally invasive techniques for removing larger fibroids); and uterine artery embolization (a radiological procedure that shrinks or destroys the tumors by blocking the blood flow to them).
No. Several minimally invasive and non-invasive procedures are now available, enabling many women with fibroids to forego the traditional surgical treatments—hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) and myomectomy (excision of individual... More -
Dr. John Lipman answered:No. There are a number of non-surgical treatments for fibroids; most notably Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) and MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS). UFE is performed by an Interventional Radiologist (see sirweb.org) who is a physician trained in minimally invasive targeted treatments performed for medical conditions that occur throughout the body using image guidance (ex. x-ray). MRgFUS is typically performed by a Radiologist, but in some cases is performed by a Gynecologist. UFE treats all of the fibroids in the uterus, while the MRgFUS is a local procedure targeted to typically from 1-3 fibroids. UFE has proven long-term (>10 years) success, while MRgFUS is an innovative technology with acceptable short-term results. UFE is covered by all insurance carriers, whereas MRgFUS is largely not covered, and most patients desiring this treatment would have to pay for this entirely out of pocket.No. There are a number of non-surgical treatments for fibroids; most notably Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) and MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS). UFE is performed by an Interventional Radiologist (see sirweb.org) who is a physician trained... More
