Uterine fibroids can pose significant challenges to a woman’s health, causing uncomfortable symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain, as well as fertility struggles in some cases.
Finding effective treatment options for fibroids, such as an innovative, non-invasive treatment called Sonata, can help alleviate symptoms, enhance reproductive health and improve quality of life.
Understanding Fibroids and Their Symptoms
Uterine fibroids, or uterine leiomyomas, are noncancerous growths that develop in and around the uterus.
Fibroids are the most common type of gynecological tumor. They can grow on the outside of the uterus, within the muscular wall of the uterus, or protrude into the uterine cavity. They range in size from as small as a pea to as large as a grapefruit, causing varying degrees of discomfort and complications depending on their location and size within the uterus.
Common symptoms of fibroids can include:
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Pelvic pain or pressure
- Frequent urination
- Pain during intercourse
- Difficulty getting pregnant
- Back pain or leg pain
Causes of Fibroids and Their Impact on Reproductive Health
Fibroids develop from the smooth muscle cells of the uterus. The exact cause of fibroids isn’t fully understood, but hormonal factors, particularly estrogen and progesterone, are known to play a significant role in their growth.
Estrogen stimulates fibroid growth, so they often enlarge during pregnancy when hormone levels are high and tend to shrink after menopause when hormone levels decline.
Some women with fibroids may conceive and carry a pregnancy to term without any issues. Others may require medical intervention to manage symptoms and improve their chances of successful conception.
The presence of fibroids can impact reproductive health and fertility in several ways:
- Large fibroids can distort the uterine cavity or block the fallopian tubes: They can potentially interfere with embryo implantation or cause difficulties in conceiving.
- Smaller fibroids can alter the uterine environment: Small fibroids located within the uterine wall (intramural) or protruding into the uterine cavity (submucosal) can affect fertility by interfering with uterine health and implantation.
- Heavy menstrual bleeding can lead to anemia: Heavy bleeding, or menorrhagia, causes blood loss that can impact overall fertility.
Treatment Options for Fibroids
If you’re experiencing any of the fibroid symptoms listed above, speak with your gynecologist as soon as possible. Addressing fibroids when they’re smaller makes them easier to manage.
Several treatment options for fibroids are available, depending on the severity of symptoms and the patient’s desire to become pregnant or preserve fertility. They include:
- Medical management: Hormonal treatments can help regulate menstrual bleeding and reduce the size of fibroids, including hormonal IUDs and contraceptives like birth control pills.
- Minimally invasive procedures: Techniques like high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), uterine artery embolization (UAE), and hysteroscopy offer effective solutions with minimal recovery time and reduced risk compared to traditional surgery.
- Surgery: For more severe cases, surgical procedures such as myomectomy (fibroid removal while preserving the uterus) or hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) might be recommended.
Benefits of Sonata Treatment for Fibroids Works
Sonata (also called Sonography-Guided Transcervical Fibroid Ablation) is an innovative, non-invasive treatment specifically designed for uterine fibroids.
This advanced procedure utilizes radiofrequency ablation to shrink fibroids from inside the uterus, sparing patients from the need for incisions and extensive recovery times associated with traditional surgeries.
Here’s more about how Sonata treatment works:
- Radiofrequency ablation: Sonata precisely targets fibroid tissue with radiofrequency energy, helping to shrink fibroids while preserving the uterus and surrounding healthy tissue.
- Outpatient procedure: Sonata is performed as an outpatient procedure, allowing many women to resume normal activities within a day or two.
Other benefits of choosing Sonata treatment for fibroids include:
- Preservation of the uterus and fertility: Unlike hysterectomy, Sonata preserves the uterus, maintaining the option for future pregnancies. There is no incision, cutting or scarring, as fibroids are treated from inside the uterus, making it suitable for women experiencing symptomatic fibroids who wish to avoid traditional surgery and preserve their fertility.
- Minimal recovery time: Patients typically recover quickly with minimal discomfort or side effects.
- High success rate: Patients treated with Sonata report significant improvement in symptoms such as heavy bleeding and pelvic pain.
If you’re suffering from symptoms of uterine fibroids or seeking a minimally invasive treatment option, contact Stony Brook Medicine today. Stony Brook Medicine is the only facility in Suffolk County offering Sonata, the most advanced treatment for uterine fibroids. Our team of board-certified gynecologists specializes in advanced fibroid treatments, offering personalized care plans tailored to individual needs and preferences.
