Fibroid Treatment Options
To find out if your symptoms are the result of fibroids, your physician
will perform a thorough pelvic examination, discuss your symptoms and
medical history, and in most cases order blood tests to check your hormone
and iron levels. In addition, your physician may recommend other diagnostic
tests such as abdominal or transvaginal ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis
and to determine the size and location of the fibroids. Other imaging
studies may include: hysterosonography or hysterosalpingography. At times,
a minimally invasive procedure known as hysteroscopy is utilized in order
to better view the interior of the uterus.
In general, uterine fibroids seldom require treatment. However, if you
have mild discomfort or troublesome symptoms, hormonal therapy may be
recommended to help reduce excessive bleeding and pelvic pressure. In
cases where symptoms are moderate to severe, your physician may recommend
a minimally invasive non-surgical option, such as endometrial ablation
or uterine artery embolization. For women with severe or persistent symptoms,
there are several minimally invasive surgical options, such as myomectomy
or hysterectomy. In addition, each of these can be performed using state-of-the-art
robotic technology.