Depending on the medication, a daily pill can help lighten heavy menstrual bleeding caused by fibroids.
Here are some common options:
1.Hormonal Birth Control (Pills, Patch, Ring) – Combination birth control pills (estrogen and progestin) or progestin-only pills can help regulate periods and reduce bleeding.
2.Tranexamic Acid (Lysteda) – A non-hormonal medication that helps blood clotting and reduces heavy menstrual bleeding when taken during your period.
3.Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Agonists (e.g., Leuprolide/Lupron) – These medications temporarily shrink fibroids and stop periods but are typically used for short-term treatment due to potential side effects.
4.Selective Progesterone Receptor Modulators (SPRMs, e.g., Ulipristal Acetate) – These can help shrink fibroids and reduce bleeding.
5.Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs, e.g., Ibuprofen, Naproxen) – Though not a direct treatment for fibroids, they can reduce blood loss and pain.
Yes, surgery and injections can help some women manage heavy menstrual bleeding caused by fibroids, especially when medications alone aren’t effective. Here are some options:
1.Injections and Non-Surgical Treatments:
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Agonists (e.g., Lupron, Zoladex, Synarel)
These injections temporarily shrink fibroids and reduce bleeding by inducing a temporary menopausal state.
used as a short-term treatment or before surgery to shrink fibroid size. Long-term use can cause bone loss and menopausal symptoms.
2.Antagonists of the GnRH, such as Relugolix, Elagolix, and Oriahnn Oral alternatives to injections that suppress estrogen production and reduce bleeding.
Sometimes used in conjunction with add-back therapy, which uses low doses of progestin and estrogen to reduce side effects.
Surgical Options: Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE/UAE)
a minimally invasive procedure in which tiny particles are injected into the blood vessels that supply the fibroids, thereby reducing their size and cutting off their blood supply. Myomectomy (Surgical removal of fibroids)
Recommended for women who want to preserve fertility.
Can be done via laparoscopic, hysteroscopic, or open abdominal surgery.
Endometrial Ablation
Destroys the uterine lining to reduce heavy bleeding.
Not recommended for pregnant women in the future. The procedure known as a Hysterectomy the only treatment for fibroids that lasts forever.
Recommended for severe cases when other treatments fail and fertility is not a concern.
