Experts from Mayo Clinic Advocate for Alternative Treatments for Fibroids, Moving Away from Hysterectomy
Researchers highlight faster recovery and long-term health benefits.
Uterine fibroids, noncancerous growths that develop in the wall of the uterus, affect up to 80 percent of women at some point in their lives and can lead to severe pain and fertility issues for nearly half of those affected.
While hysterectomy has been the traditional treatment for this condition, researchers at the Mayo Clinic are advocating for minimally invasive alternatives to avoid unnecessary long-term health risks for millions of women.
Health Concerns Associated With Hysterectomy
According to a survey from the Society of Interventional Radiology, more than 50 percent of women diagnosed with uterine fibroids are recommended hysterectomy instead of less-invasive alternatives.
Experts from the Mayo Clinic caution against hysterectomy, emphasizing the benefits of less invasive treatments in promoting faster recovery and overall health. Dr. Shannon Laughlin-Tommaso, co-lead author of the paper and an OB-GYN at the Mayo Clinic, stated in a press statement that there are health advantages to retaining the uterus and ovaries.
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The researchers pointed out the risks associated with hysterectomy, including increased chances of cardiovascular disease, depression, anxiety, and higher mortality rates, particularly for women who undergo the procedure during their child-bearing years.
Alternative Treatment Options
The Mayo Clinic paper outlines various alternatives to hysterectomy, such as:
- Hormone-releasing in uterine devices (IUDs)
- Radiofrequency ablation (a procedure that uses heat to destroy tissue)
- Focused ultrasound ablation (which uses ultrasound beams to target and ablate tissue)
- Uterine artery embolization (which blocks the blood supply to the fibroids, causing them to shrink and alleviating symptoms)
These options provide different approaches to addressing uterine fibroids while minimizing the risks associated with more invasive surgeries.
Early Detection Is Crucial: Experts
While the diagnosis of fibroids is straightforward and involves a pelvic ultrasound, screening often occurs when the condition worsens, the researchers noted.
Early detection is vital as smaller fibroids are easier to treat. The incidence of fibroids increases with age and is notably higher in black women, who also tend to experience more severe symptoms, as per the study.
Dr. Ebbie Stewart, co-lead author and gynecologist at the Mayo Clinic, emphasized in the press release the importance of earlier diagnosis and treatment to reduce health disparities among black women.
The researchers suggest future studies focus on screening younger women, especially young black women and those with a notable family history of fibroids.
Role of Hysterectomy in Treatment
Despite the medical community’s reliance on hysterectomy, there are challenges associated with this approach, pointed out Dr. Laughlin-Tommaso.
She stated, “Hysterectomy simplifies decision-making for medical providers and patients. It eliminates the need to decide which fibroids to treat or remove and is widely available in OB-GYN practices.”
Concerns about missing rare uterine cancers like leiomyosarcoma have led women to choose hysterectomies over less invasive options.
Recurrent fibroids occur in about 50 to 60 percent of cases within five to ten years post-removal, but not all recurrences are symptomatic, especially as women near menopause.
