Most Modern Way to Zap Uterine Fibroids

Health A-Z | July 13, 2010

What Is Uterine Fibroids?

Uterine fibroids, is one of the recently found tumors in women. It grows inside the uterus, and although it’s a noncancerous tumor, but can be troublesome.

Problems Associated With Uterine Fibroids

Like any other tumors, there are few problems associated with uterine fibroids as well. Some of the common problems associated with uterine fibroids include:

Protracted, serious menstrual bleeding which can be relentless enough to cause anemia or even can necessitate blood transfusion
Rigorous pelvic pressure and pain
Urinary frequency
Pain through intercourse
Problems in becoming pregnant
Miscarriage
Complications in pregnancy.

Who Suffers From Uterine Fibroids?

Around 20 to 40 percent of women aging around 35 and older suffers from uterine fibroids. But the problem is even more common in black women. As a matter of fact, according to a study about half of the black women have fibroids.

Treatments for Uterine Fibroids

There is a wide range of treatments available for uterine fibroids, varying from receiving a hysterectomy to birth control pills. Recently, some other techniques have also been developed, like myomectomy.

Basically myomectomy is a process in which doctors surgically removes fibroids, and uterine fibroid embolization (UFE). One another beneficial treatment for fibroids is uterine artery embolization. In this the fibroids are starved by blocking their blood supply with the help of particles inserted inside the uterus with the help of a tube threaded from an artery in the groin.

The recently developed and the least invasive technique for fibroids is focused ultrasound. In this technique this the interventional radiologists guided by MRI zaps fibroids with the help of focused ultrasound.

How Beneficial Is Focused Ultrasound?

Focused ultrasound, was firstly tested on 119 women by the researchers from Mayo Clinic and around 75 percent of the women reported “superb” improvement in their symptoms, while the remaining 25 percent said that the improvement was considerable.

Is It FDA Approved?

If you doubt the effectiveness or legitimacy of the treatment then let us tell you that Focused ultrasound was permitted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for/as the treatment of uterine fibroids in October 2004. Though, keep in mind that the technique is available in limited number of cities in US and not all the insurance companies cover Focused Ultrasound.

Benefits of Focused Ultrasound

Some primary benefits of the technique include quick invasive recovery, as a matter of fact in some cases women can get back to their normal lives in very next day. Secondly the technique is not painful.

Drawbacks of Focused Ultrasound

Like most of the other medical procedures, there are certain drawbacks of this technique as well. Firstly, the technique is lengthy and can take several hours, during which, women will have to lay under an MRI on their belly, while frivolously sedated.

One another drawback of the technique is that it’s not for every woman, and although its promising, but it still cant replace the current techniques.

So that’s all you need to know about the most modern way of zapping away the uterine fibroids.