Fibriod treatments today

November, 1999

Treatments Today for
Fibroids and Symptoms

Listed below are the different types of treatments offered to women for fibroids and the symptoms which accompany them.

Hysteroscopy Resection

An electrical loop is used to shave the fibroid down where it is located in the endometrium. The endometrium where the tumor is , is destroyed. The entire tumor is not removed and can continue to grow. The fluids used can cause cardiac failure. Several women have died from emboli by this technique. A laser can also be used and the risks are the same. This technique can not remove all the uterine fibroids. Many fibroids remain behind to continue to grow .

Endometerial Ablation

Endometerial Ablation is when a laser is used to “burn” the entire uterine lining. Cardiac failure from fluid over load is a complication. Women have died from emboli from this procedure. This procedure does not remove the fibroids. It stops bleeding by scarring the entire endometrium. Burns outside the uterus on the bowel and bladder can occur. Infection and pain are common complications as well. Women can lose uterine orgasm from the scarring process.

Rollerball and the Uterine Balloon

Rollerball and the Uterine Balloon are similar. These are other devices used to burn the uterine lining. I call these “span” uteri techniques. I find all of these to be barbaric. For the fibroids are not being specifically addressed and the endometerium is destroyed. This deep burn can prevent uterine orgasm from taking place and cause chronic pelvic pain.

Laparscopy Myomectomy

Many surgeons promote this without informing women that they can only remove superficial and peducalated fibroids by this technique. I have seen surgeons butcher women. I saw one surgeon transfuse many units of blood because he could not stop the bleeding. He would try to burn the bleeders and often burned the bladder or bowel as well. These surgeries tend to take many hours under general anesthesia. After experiencing severe pain , blood loss, and often infection, these women would later learn that only a few fibroids were taken care of and more remained. Large holes in the uterus are left to bleed and SCAR-IN with adhesions.

I have removed many fibroids this way but only a few cases are indicated for this procedure. The one physician I spoke of actually removed the entire cervix of a woman, thinking it was a fibroid. (See No More Castration). Many complications occur but the women assume everything is fine and are never aware what actually went on in the operating room.

Myolysis

This is another tissue destruction technique. A laser fiber or electrical probe is placed into the fibroid and the heat is turned on. In this manner the tumor tissue is liquefied and boils. The tissue dies and scar tissue forms. In some cases infection does occur. Also women can experience severe fevers and pain. This can be done with a laparascopy and/or through a laparotomy incision as well. Burning can occur to the bowels or bladder causing more complications.

Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE)
click here for more information about UAE

This is a costly procedure amongst all the procedures women go through. Women are required too have a hysterescopy and a laparascopy before having the embolization. Many are forced to take Lupron. Silicone plugs or other silicone like material is used to block the uterine artery. “The idea is to kill the fibroid by killing the uterus.” Women are not getting full informed consent for this procedure.

I have four women who suffered severe pain and still have enlarged uteri, but now can not have children. These women had really thought their fibroids would completely disappear by the information they had been given. This procedure can castrate a woman completely, destroying the blood supply to all of her female reproductive organs. Women are having this, not realizing what is actually happening. Necrosis of the uterus means a non-functioning uterus. No menses, no bleeding, no hormone production and no uterine orgasm can be the end result of this procedure.

I am working on a cost analysis for these procedures and long term complication list. Also I am creating an informed consent file for the Department of Justice to evaluate the consumer fraud as puts off many of the above procedures. I opened a file in 1994 on this issue.

Myomectomy

This is a major surgery that requires an abdominal incision. In traditional myomectomy, multiple incisions are made on the surface of the uterus. These are closed in one layer. Deeper fibroids remain behind to continue to grow. This technique results in increased blood loss and adhesions. Also the repairs are weak and weaken the uterus.

All of the above procedures fail to repair other abnormalities that co-exist with uterine fibroids, can cause other negative conditions manifest, or can allow fibroids stalks to continue to grow. This means that many women face more and continuing uncomfortable symptoms and more surgery in the future.

Female Reconstructive Surgery (FRS)

Female Reconstructive Surgery (FRS) is an alternative to all of the above listed surgical procedures. To learn more about FRS schedule an education consult or call 323-650-6182.