Mainstream treatments for symptomatic uterine fibroids

Or find: Alternative treatments for uterine fibroids

General Treatments

Oral contraceptives - to help control heavy periods

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) that release the synthetic hormone progestin - to help reduce heavy bleeding and pain

Iron supplements - to prevent or treat anemia due to heavy periods

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) - E.g.ibuprofen for cramps or pain

Surgical Treatments

A hysterectomy is frequently advised in the U.S. - especially if a woman does not intend to have children. In fact, leiomyoma are the predominant reason for a hysterectomy in premenopausal women (MerckManual)

Myomectomy - This surgery removes the fibroids. It is often the chosen treatment for women who want to have children, because it usually can preserve fertility. More fibroids can develop after a myomectomy.

Magnetic Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound - Magnetic Resonance guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS), is a non-invasive intervention (requiring no incision) that uses high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) waves to ablate (destroy) tissue in combination with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which guides and monitors the treatment.

Hysteroscopic resection of fibroids(as outpatient) - when UFs are growing inside the uterus. A small camera/instruments are inserted through the cervix into the uterus to remove the UFs.

Uterine artery embolization - procedure cuts off blood supply to the UF, causing it to die and shrink.

Anti-fibrotic therapies inhibit and reverse the fibrotic process

Affect a change in abnormal ECM by leiomyoma cells

•  GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE analogues

•  Small studies indicate Progesterone receptor antagonists decrease uterine fibroid size

-   Full Progesterone receptor antagonist - Mifepristone (aka RU-486) was effective in a placebo-controlled pilot study. (Malartic et al, 2008)

-    Selective Progesterone receptor modulators - such as Progenta and Asoprisnil, have been under investigation; (Wilkens et al, 2009)

References

Malartic, C.; Morel, O.; Akerman, G.; Tulpin, L.; Desfeux, P.; Barranger, E. (2008). "La mifépristone dans la prise en charge des fibromes utérins". Gynécologie Obstétrique & Fertilité 36: 668.

Wilkens, J; Williams, AR; Chwalisz, K; Han, C; Cameron, IT; Critchley, HO (2009). "Effect of asoprisnil on uterine proliferation markers and endometrial expression of the tumour suppressor gene, PTEN". Human reproduction (Oxford, England) 24(5): 1036-44 PubMed