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Between work, family and all those other things you agreed to do, you have a lot of priorities.
And it can be hard to pencil in time to take care of your health. But when a condition like uterine fibroids starts interfering with your active life, it’s time to get care.
At Cleveland Clinic, we’re here to help you. Uterine fibroids can come with many symptoms that throw a wrench in your life. Maybe you’ve experienced uterine pain or heavy bleeding during your periods that’s taken you away from the activities you love. Our experts are here to listen to you and help you find a way back to the busy life you love — without the pain of fibroids.
Cleveland Clinic is a trusted healthcare leader. We're recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for our expertise and care.
Our board-certified gynecologists and gynecologic surgeons handle high volumes of patients with uterine fibroids. This means you’re in the care of experienced, skilled specialists. Meet our team.
We tailor treatments to your symptoms, fertility goals and personal preferences. We offer procedures for women who plan to have children, want to keep their uterus or choose bloodless medicine.
We specialize in laparoscopic gynecological surgery, which uses very small incisions. We can perform almost all of our uterine fibroid procedures this way to help you recover faster with less pain.
We believe that women who care for their physical, mental and emotional health take charge of their destinies. Celebrate Sisterhood is a Cleveland Clinic-sponsored program dedicated to empowering multicultural women to embrace self-care. Learn more about Celebrate Sisterhood.
We work with providers throughout the Cleveland Clinic network to ensure you get complete care. We collaborate with interventional radiologists, nutritionists, hematologists, infertility specialists, a blood management team and the Center for Functional Medicine.
We may do an ultrasound, diagnostic hysteroscopy, saline infusion sonography or MRI to get a clear picture of your pelvic health before creating a treatment plan.
This non-invasive test creates a picture of your pelvic organs using sound waves. Ultrasound is often the first test done to confirm that you have uterine fibroids and check for abnormalities in your pelvis.
A diagnostic hysteroscopy is a quick procedure that can be performed right in the doctor’s office. Our team has performed more than 10,000 in-office hysteroscopies, which means we have extensive experience with this technique.
During a diagnostic hysteroscopy, we insert a thin, flexible lighted tube, or hysteroscope, through the vagina to examine the uterus. We often utilize a “no-touch” technique that eliminates the need for a speculum or additional instruments. A hysteroscopy helps us determine the size and extent of your fibroids. We can also make sure you don’t have other conditions affecting the uterus and cervix, such as polyps or an infection.
A saline infusion sonography, also called a water sonogram, is a type of ultrasound. We use saltwater to gently expand the uterus. Your doctor inserts an imaging tool through the vagina, which allows us to see a 3D image of fibroids and other abnormalities in the uterus.
We may do an MRI if your uterus is enlarged. This imaging test helps us determine the size, number and location of your uterine fibroids.
Our office is located at Cleveland Clinic's main campus in the A Building - Crile Building. We also offer treatment for uterine fibroids at many locations throughout Northeast Ohio and Florida.
You have a range of options when it comes to uterine fibroid treatment. Before creating a treatment plan, we take the time to listen to your needs. We review your symptoms and discuss your goals for fertility preservation.
We offer a wide range of medications to reduce pelvic pain, relieve heavy bleeding during periods and prevent anemia (a lack of iron in the blood). We may recommend:
Sometimes fibroid surgery is necessary. We’ll choose a procedure that fits your fertility goals and personal preferences. Be sure to let us know what’s important to you. We offer bloodless surgery for women who don’t want a blood transfusion or blood products during surgery.
During this procedure, we collaborate with interventional radiologists to place a small catheter into an artery in your groin or wrist. We inject particles through the catheter into your uterine arteries to cut off blood supply to the fibroids. This causes them to shrink over the span of a few months.
Your surgeon uses heat to destroy the lining of the uterus. This treatment may burn small fibroids near the uterine lining, but it’s primarily done to reduce heavy bleeding during periods. Endometrial ablation affects fertility, so we would not recommend this procedure if you’re planning on having children.
We may recommend a myomectomy if you plan on having children. During this procedure, we remove the uterine fibroids and keep your uterus intact. Our surgeons can perform most myomectomies hysteroscopically or laparoscopically.
Hysteroscopic myomectomy
We can remove small fibroids in the uterine cavity using a hysteroscope. This is a thin, lighted tube used to look inside the vagina, cervix and uterus. We attach surgical tools to the hysteroscope to take the fibroids out through the vagina. Without the need for any incisions, this is a quick, outpatient procedure. Most women can return to normal activities within a few days.
Laparoscopic and robotic-assisted myomectomy
We use this procedure to remove larger uterine fibroids while preserving the uterus. However, it requires small incisions in the abdomen, often measuring 5-10mm. In some cases, a surgeon may use the assistance of a robot depending on the surgeon’s preference.
For most women, laparoscopic myomectomy is a same-day procedure. Recovery time is usually two to four weeks. The procedure offers several advantages over a traditional open myomectomy, including:
Laparoscopic hysterectomy
By the age of 60, one in three women will have had a hysterectomy (a surgery to remove the uterus). The majority of hysterectomies are done to treat fibroids.
Many women assume they’ll need an open hysterectomy (laparotomy), which would involve a large incision and an extensive recovery. However, we can almost always perform a vaginal or laparoscopic hysterectomy, which only requires small incisions in the abdomen.
It’s important to note that we typically don’t remove the ovaries during a hysterectomy if you are premenopausal. This means you won’t go into early menopause or need hormone therapy after the procedure. Most women can go home the same day as their surgery. The typical recovery period is two to four weeks.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA)
This minimally invasive procedure applies heat directly into the fibroids. This causes the fibroids to shrink over time and reduces symptoms. RFA may be done vaginally or laparoscopically depending on the size, number and location of the fibroids.
Whether it’s miserable periods or pain, fibroids can pull you away from your active life. The good news? You can work with our team of experts to create a treatment plan that’ll work for you. With treatment, comes relief from symptoms that get in the way of the life you want to live.
Getting an appointment with Cleveland Clinic’s uterine fibroid experts is easy. We’re here to help you get the care you need.
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