Beyond radiofrequency
ablation, alternatives to hysterectomy include:
Managing symptoms:
Anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce pain, and
birth-control pills or an intrauterine device
can reduce the bleeding. But neither will make
the fibroids go away. Hormone
blockers...Side effects include hot
flashes and bone loss, so this is mostly used
when menopause is near. Otherwise, the fibroids
regrow when the drugs are stopped...Myomectomy:
Fibroids (also known as leiomyomata) can be
surgically removed either with a major incision
in the abdomen, a laproscopic procedure or with
a hysteroscopy through the cervix, depending on
their size and location. The fibroids must be
dissected and the uterus must be repaired, but
women can still become pregnant afterward.
Uterine artery embolization:
The procedure, called UAE, involves threading a
thin tube through an artery at the top of the
leg and into a blood vessel that supplies the
fibroid. Tiny plastic beads are injected to
block the flow of blood, shrinking the fibroid.
The embolization sometimes produces early
menopause...High-frequency ultrasound:
This method, called HIFU, uses an MRI to locate
the fibroids and shrinks them (small fibroids)
with highly focused sound waves."