Treatment for Uterine Fibroids

Medical or radiologic treatment for uterine fibroids may help ease the symptoms

If the symptoms of uterine fibroids are affecting your life, you need to see a knowledgeable specialist to determine which treatment would work best for you. In his North Dallas urogynecology office, Dr. J. Kyle Mathews offers patients a variety of treatment options that are non-invasive or minimally invasive.

Medications may be used to control the symptoms caused by uterine fibroids

While medications cannot remove uterine fibroids, they can sometimes shrink them and/or treat the symptoms that fibroids cause, such as changes in menstruation, pain or heavy bleeding.

  • Oral contraceptives or other forms of hormonal birth control can help with symptoms such as pain and heavy bleeding.
  • Progestin-releasing IUDs (intrauterine contraception) also treat pain and heavy bleeding.
  • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) accomplish two goals. First, they cause fibroids to become smaller, and second, they block the hormones that cause ovulation and menstruation. This is not a long-term treatment.

Patients who come to our North Dallas urogynecology office may also be advised to take over-the-counter pain medications, or Dr. Mathews may prescribe pain medication for the pain caused by uterine fibroids.

Radiologic treatments serve as another option for uterine fibroids

Radiologic treatment options use radiation therapy to destroy uterine fibroids.

Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is a minimally invasive procedure that aims to shrink uterine fibroids by cutting off the blood that flows to them. Without this blood supply, fibroids should shrink and then die. During this procedure, an Interventialist Radiologist makes a very small incision in your groin area to allow a catheter tube to be inserted through the artery in the groin to the arteries that provide blood to the uterine fibroids. doctor injects very small embolic agents, which are particles as small as grains of sand, into the arteries where the particles will block the blood flow.

This procedure may create complications if the particles also block blood flow to the ovaries or other pelvic organs.

MRI-guided ultrasound uses high-intensity ultrasound waves to destroy uterine fibroids. The doctor locates the exact location of the fibroids using the MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanner, and then positions the ultrasound transducer to direct the waves through the skin to the fibroid. This procedure is non-invasive and done on an outpatient basis.

Every woman has different needs, and she needs an individualized treatment plan for her uterine fibroids. At our North Dallas urogynecology office, Dr. Mathews and his caring staff will work with you to help you deal with the symptoms of uterine fibroids. Contact us to make an appointment today.