In this Article

• What are uterine fibroids?
• Why do women develop uterine fibroids and how common are they?
• What are the symptoms of uterine fibroids?
• Do untreated uterine fibroids pose a risk?
• What are the usual ways of diagnosing uterine fibroids?
• What is the treatment of uterine fibroids?
• Surgical treatment for fibroids
• Medical treatment for fibroids
• Uterine Fibroids At A Glance
• Patient Discussions: Uterine Fibroids (Benign Tumors Of The Uterus) - Describe Your Experience
• Uterine Fibroids Glossary
• Uterine Fibroids Index

Medical treatments

Non-surgical techniques are usually hormonal in nature and include the use of drugs that turn off the production of estrogen from the ovaries (GnRH analogs). These medications are given for three to six months. When successful, they can shrink the fibroids by as much as 50%.

Mifepristone (RU-486) is an antiprogestin drug that can shrink fibroids to an extent comparable to treatment with the GnRH analogs. This drug, sometimes known as the "morning-after pill" is also used to terminate early pregnancy. Treatment with mifepristone also reduced the bleeding associated with fibroids, but this treatment can be associated with adverse side effects such as overgrowth (hyperplasia) of the endometrium (uterine lining).

Danazol (Danocrine) is an androgenic steroid hormone that has been used to reduce bleeding in women with fibroids, since this drug causes menstruation to cease. However, danazol does not appear to shrink the size of fibroids.

The administration of raloxifene (Evista) (a drug used to prevent and treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women) has been shown to decrease the size of fibroids in postmenopausal women, but results with this therapy in premenopausal women have been conflicting. Low dose formulations of oral contraceptives are also sometimes given to treat the abnormal bleeding associated with fibroids.

Uterine Fibroids At A Glance

• Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that originate in the uterus (womb).
• It is not known exactly why women develop uterine fibroids.
• Most women with uterine fibroids have no symptoms. However, fibroids can cause a number of symptoms depending on their size, location within the uterus, and how close they are to adjacent pelvic organs.
• Uterine fibroids are diagnosed by pelvic exam and even more commonly by ultrasound.
• If treatment for uterine fibroids is required, both surgical and medical treatment options are available.

Uterine Fibroids (Benign Tumors Of The Uterus) - Describe Your Experience

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