Women with uterine fibroids are often steered toward hysterectomy rather than less invasive options More than half of women with uterine fibroids were told hysterectomy was the best treatment Fewer than 1 in 5 were offered other options THURSDAY, July 11, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Women with uterine fibroids are often told hysterectomy is the best treatment, even though less invasive options are available, a new study finds. More than half (53%) of women with uterine fibroids -- non-cancerous growths along the wall of the uterus -- were presented hysterectomy as the preferred treatment, according to a Harris Poll survey performed on behalf of the Society of Interventional Radiology. Fewer than 1 in 5 women were presented with options less invasive than hysterectomy, a major surgery involving complete removal of the uterus that requires several weeks of recovery: 19% were offered pain-relieving NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen.
17% were offered uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), in which the fibroids are shrunk by cutting blood flow to them. 17% were offered endometrial ablation, in which laser, electric current or freezing are used to destroy the lining of the uterus. 17% were offered hormonal birth control, which can help manage the cramps and heavy bleeding associated with fibroids.
“The survey findings, coupled with the low number of women who were offered a minimally invasive treatment like UFE, indicate that women are not being given all of the information they need t.
