Are other treatments being developed for uterine fibroids?

Yes: Newer medications called selective estrogen modulators and selective Progesterone modulators (serms and sprms) are revelaing interesting information that may provide another treatment for fibroids. As such, these medical treatments won't cure fibrooids, but may help alleviate the symptoms such as bleeding and be a useful pre-operative tool.

Halt Procedure: For women suffering with problems such as heavy periods and wish to retain their uterus a laparoscopic surgery called halt will allow the doctor to avoid the more invasive myomectomy (removal of fibroids) and simply heat them so they shrink. This is an outpatient procedure with a few days of recovery. Trials completed. Should receive fda approval and be available to gynecologists in 2012.

Yes: Mri-guided focused ultrasound (mrgfus) is one of the more recent advances in treating fibroids. It is a completely non-invasive treatment. The women lies prone on a MRI table which has a special ultrasound unit built in to it. This can deliver a focused beam of ultrasound energy into the fibroid to destroy it. The procedure is best for one or two fibroids and currently takes 2-3 hours to perform.

Yes: Current treatments include: hormones, uterine artery embolization, myomectomy (surgery to remove the fibroids) and hysterectomy. Ultrasonic ablation of fibroids, and new hormonal treatments are in development or being tested.