Treatments for Fibroids: What Are Your Options?
If you’ve been diagnosed with uterine fibroids, you’re probably wondering what your treatment options are. Can fibroids shrink on their own? Do you need surgery? What about medications or holistic approaches?
At Fibroid Pain Center, we guide women through safe, effective fibroid care using the most advanced techniques. While there are many options out there, not all treatments work the same, or work at all. In this article, we’ll break down non-medical treatments for fibroid tumors, explore every medical treatment for fibroids, and explain why we only recommend one option: uterine fibroid embolization (UFE).
Non-Medical Treatments for Fibroid Tumors
Non-medical approaches may relieve fibroid symptoms, but they do not shrink or eliminate fibroid tumors. That’s an important distinction. If you’re trying to manage heavy periods, cramps, or pelvic pressure without medical intervention, these options may offer some comfort, but they are not a treatment for fibroids themselves.
Here are some of the most common non-medical treatments for fibroid tumors:
Diet and Lifestyle Changes
While no diet cures fibroids, some women find that reducing their intake of red meat, alcohol, and processed foods helps alleviate bloating and inflammation. Eating more fiber and plant-based foods may also support hormonal balance. Regular exercise can improve circulation and ease pelvic discomfort. However, these changes won’t reduce the size or number of fibroids.
Supplements and Herbal Remedies
Over-the-counter supplements, such as vitamin D, green tea extract, and curcumin, are often marketed as fibroid “helpers.” Some herbal blends claim to balance estrogen levels. However, clinical evidence is limited, and none of these have been proven to shrink fibroids or prevent them from growing. Always talk to your doctor before trying supplements, especially if you’re planning a medical treatment for fibroid tumors.
Acupuncture and Massage Therapy
Holistic therapies, such as acupuncture or abdominal massage, may help reduce stress, improve circulation, and relieve mild cramping. These approaches can enhance your overall well-being, but they do not treat the underlying fibroids. At best, they’re supportive tools for symptom relief. But they should never be treated as a substitute for a medical treatment.
Heat Therapy or Pain Management
Heating pads, warm baths, and over-the-counter NSAIDs like ibuprofen can provide short-term pain relief. These methods are helpful during menstrual flares but don’t have any long-term effect on fibroid size or bleeding. At best, they can offer temporary comfort.
Medical Treatments for Fibroids
When it comes to actual medical treatment for fibroids, you have several choices, each with different levels of safety, invasiveness, and effectiveness. At Fibroid Pain Center, we believe uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is the safest and most effective option available.
Let’s take a closer look at each medical treatment for fibroid tumors:
Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE)
UFE is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that uses tiny particles to block blood flow to fibroids, causing them to shrink. It doesn’t require open surgery, and most women go home the same day. Because it preserves the uterus and avoids surgical risks, UFE is ideal for women who want to avoid hysterectomy or protect fertility. It’s also highly effective at relieving bleeding, pressure, and pain caused by fibroids.
Hormonal Medications
Hormonal options like GnRH agonists, birth control pills, and progestins may temporarily reduce heavy bleeding. However, they don’t eliminate fibroids and come with side effects like hot flashes, weight gain, and bone loss. These are short-term solutions for fibroids, not long-term treatments. GnRH agonists can shrink fibroids before surgery, but they are not a cure. Once the medication is stopped, fibroids often grow back.
Myomectomy
Myomectomy removes fibroids from the uterus. While it preserves the uterus, it’s still major surgery and requires a hospital stay, general anesthesia, and weeks of recovery. Fibroids may also return after surgery, especially in younger women. For women with very large or deeply embedded fibroids, myomectomy may be the only option, but the risks are higher than with UFE. It also carries potential complications for future pregnancies.
Hysterectomy
Hysterectomy is a definitive treatment for fibroids that involves removing the uterus completely. While this eliminates the possibility of regrowth, it also ends fertility and may trigger hormonal shifts if the ovaries are removed. This requires significant recovery time and should only be considered when other treatments have failed or are not appropriate. For women who want a uterus-sparing solution, hysterectomy is not the right choice.
Endometrial Ablation
This procedure uses heat or energy to destroy the uterine lining, which can help reduce bleeding. However, it doesn’t target or remove fibroids and is not suitable for women who want to get pregnant. Results vary, and symptoms may return over time. Endometrial ablation is only effective in very specific cases, typically when bleeding is the primary issue and the fibroids are small in size. It only helps with bleeding, and not the fibroid itself.
Why We Only Recommend UFE
At Fibroid Pain Center, we specialize in one procedure: uterine fibroid embolization. That’s because UFE offers the best balance of safety, effectiveness, and recovery time.
We don’t recommend surgical or hormonal options unless absolutely necessary. Here’s why:
- Minimally invasive, no general anesthesia
- Preserves fertility and avoids major surgery
- Short recovery—most women return to work in 1 to 2 weeks
- No hospital stay—outpatient procedure
- Effective for multiple fibroid types and sizes
- Low risk of recurrence compared to surgery
- Does not affect hormone levels or require ongoing medication
If you’re looking for a medical treatment for fibroids that actually shrinks fibroids and gets you back to life quickly, UFE is the answer. Contact us to schedule a consultation and determine if UFE is the right option for you. Our expert team, led by Dr. Cortes, provides compassionate, personalized care with same-day treatment at our Clifton and Morristown locations.
FAQs
Can Fibroids Go Away Without Treatment?
In most cases, fibroids don’t go away on their own. Some may shrink after menopause due to lower estrogen levels, but if you’re still menstruating, fibroids often grow over time. If you’re experiencing symptoms, it’s best to consider medical treatment for fibroids.
Is UFE Painful?
Uterine fibroid embolization isn’t painful during the procedure since it’s done under conscious sedation. Afterward, you may experience cramping or pelvic discomfort for a few days, but this is manageable with medication. Most women feel significantly better within a week.
Can I Get Pregnant After UFE?
Yes, many women have healthy pregnancies after UFE. Unlike a hysterectomy, UFE preserves the uterus. While every case is different, UFE is often a great option if you want to avoid surgery and keep your fertility options open.
How Do I Know If UFE Is Right For Me?
If you’re dealing with heavy bleeding, pelvic pressure, or anemia caused by fibroids and you want to avoid surgery, UFE may be the ideal medical treatment for fibroid tumors.
