What Are My Minimally Invasive Procedure Options for Fibroids?

Did you know that uterine fibroids are very rarely cancerous and that having them doesn’t increase your risk of getting any form of cancer? However, that doesn’t mean these fibrous tissue growths don’t cause problems. 

In fact, if you’re one of the more than 35 million US women with uterine fibroids, you’re probably familiar with the frustrating and uncomfortable symptoms these benign uterine tumors can cause, including:

• Painful periods
• Abnormal bleeding/anemia
• Incontinence
• Frequent urination
• Low back pain
• Pelvic pain or pressure 
• Pain during or after sex
• Digestive trouble (e.g., constipation)

Symptoms associated with fibroids vary based on where the growths are located, how many you have, their size, and other factors. They can cause so many problematic issues that some women consider invasive surgery, like a myomectomy or hysterectomy, to put a stop to them. 

Fortunately, at Darin Swainston MD, FACOG, in Las Vegas, Nevada, our board-certified OB/GYN team offers many minimally invasive solutions to treat uterine fibroids. 

Medications and hormonal birth control

Medications don’t typically require invasive procedures; however, they do affect your body and can cause side effects. As such, it’s important to talk to your Darin Swainston, MD, FACOG, provider to weigh the pros and cons of these treatments. 

For example, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agents (GnRHa) are a type of medicine used to shrink fibroids. However, because they affect your hormones, they can trigger hot flashes, insomnia, joint pain, and other side effects. 

Likewise, an intrauterine device (IUD), which requires insertion by an OB/GYN provider, can help control bleeding, but it might affect your menstrual cycles. 

These and other medications, like hormonal birth control pills or ibuprofen, are typically the first line of defense when addressing mild-to-moderate fibroid symptoms.  

Ablation and embolization

For women with smaller fibroids who aren’t planning to get pregnant in the future, endometrial ablation and uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) are minimally invasive treatment options that work to address uterine fibroids without surgery. 

With endometrial ablation, your provider destroys the endometrium tissue, which lines your uterus using electricity, laser energy, or special wires. You’re sedated for comfort, and the procedure can help destroy or shrink fibroids. 

Another minimally invasive option is a procedure called uterine fibroid embolization (UFE). This treatment safely and effectively shrinks fibroids. 

Your provider inserts a small tube, called a catheter, into the vein that delivers blood and nutrients to the fibroids. They then release tiny particles that block the flow of blood to the fibroid, causing them to shrink.  

The Acessa® procedure

The Acessa® procedure is a minimally invasive treatment that preserves your uterus while helping ease the problematic symptoms associated with uterine fibroids. This outpatient treatment takes less than two hours but can positively change your quality of life. 

Your Darin Swainston MD, FACOG, provider makes two small cuts, then maps the location and size of your fibroids using a special probe that transmits ultrasound pictures. Using the map as a guide, your provider then sends radiofrequency (RF) energy into each fibroid. 

The RF energy uses heat to destroy the fibroid, but the precision of the Acessa handpiece means the healthy surrounding tissues aren’t harmed. Your body naturally reabsorbs the destroyed fibroids in the weeks following your treatment. 

Over 94% of women report extreme relief after the Acessa procedure, with either dramatic reduction or full elimination of problematic symptoms. 

Choosing the right minimally invasive fibroid procedure for you

The right treatment for your fibroids depends on many factors, including your overall health, symptoms, location, and size of your fibroids, and other factors, such as whether you’re planning to have children in the future. 

At Darin Swainston MD, FACOG, your provider evaluates these factors and discusses your preferences to create a personalized fibroid treatment plan that meets your needs and goals. 

Don’t hesitate to speak with one of our OB/GYN providers to learn more about your minimally invasive fibroid treatment options or for more information about any of the procedures outlined above. Schedule an appointment online or over the phone at our Las Vegas office now.