Study Compares 3 Fibroid Treatments

Women can get relief from uterine fibroids with any of three procedures, new research finds. But they prefer the ones that avoid removing the uterus. The study included 197 women with fibroids. These are tumors of the uterus, but they are not cancer. Many produce no symptoms. But some women have pain or heavy bleeding. Some have problems getting pregnant. Women in the study chose one of three treatments. Some had a hysterectomy. This is surgery to remove the uterus. Some women had uterine artery embolization. Doctors inject a material to block the blood supply to the fibroids. This is done through a small tube threaded into an artery. The third procedure uses ultrasound to block blood vessels to the fibroids. This is done from outside the body. It is guided by MRI images. Women treated with all three methods reported better quality of life.