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Alternatives to hysterectomy
For women who do not have a cancerous condition, a minimally invasive
alternative to hysterectomy is sometimes a good option.
In the United States, approximately 2.5 million women each year seek medical
treatment from their gynecologists for excessive uterine bleeding. Historically,
hysterectomy was offered as the long-term solution for women who continue to
bleed despite hormonal therapy. But physicians at Hutzel Women’s Hospital are
pioneering minimally invasive alternatives.
Are you a candidate?
Of the approximately 600,000 hysterectomies performed annually in the United
States, it has been estimated that more than 150,000 are performed for the
relief of heavy bleeding from benign causes. Many of these cases may be
candidates for alternative treatments.
You might want to talk with your doctor about alternatives to hysterectomy
if:
- You have a non-cancerous condition.
- You have uterine fibroids.
- You are done having children but are years away from menopause.
Alternative Procedures
Alternatives to hysterectomy include:
- HydroThermablation (HTA) therapy
HTA therapy is a new, minimally invasive procedure to control abnormal
uterine bleeding. For many women, it’s an excellent alternative to
hysterectomy.
During this outpatient procedure, a hysteroscope is inserted into the uterine
cavity while a hot saline solution is delivered into the uterus through a tube
inserted into the cervix. The water destroys the lining of the uterus in about
10 minutes. Because the treatment relies on the circulation of heated saline,
which fills the uterine cavity, it has the unique ability to treat even those
women whose uterine cavities have irregular shapes.
- Uterine Balloon Therapy
This innovative procedure is an alternative to hysterectomy for women who
suffer from excessive menstrual bleeding and do not have cancer. During the
procedure, a balloon is inserted through the vagina and used to remove the
endometrial lining of the uterus.
- Hysteroscopic Myomectomy
A myomectomy is a surgical procedure that removes fibroids but leaves the
uterus intact. In a hysteroscopic myomectomy, the doctor inserts a flexible
fiber-optic scope (hysteroscope) into the uterus through the vagina and cervix
and removes the fibroids using special surgical tools fitted to the scope.
- Laparoscopic Myomectomy
In a laparoscopic myomectomy, small incisions are made so a probe with a tiny
camera and surgical instruments can be inserted into the abdominal cavity. The
instruments are then used to remove fibroids on the outside of the uterus.
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Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE)
Uterine fibroid
tumors can cause back pain, excessive bleeding, pelvic disconfort, pressure on
other organs, infertility and urinary complications. Uterine Fibroid
Embolization (UFE) is a minimally invasive, interventional radiology treatment
for benign tumors. For many women, it is an excellent alternative to a
hysterectomy or open abdominal surgery. This usually reduces symptoms
caused by the fibroids.
UFE is a non-surgical approach to the treatment
of uterine fibroids and is typically performed with local anesthesia and
intravenous sedation. Using imaging technology, the interventional
radiologist introduces a mocrocatheter through the femoral artery and is guided
fluoroscopically into the uterine artery. Small particulate embolic
clotting agents are injected and used to block the flow of blood to the uterine
arteries - the blood supply to the problem fibroids.
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