The fibroid is simply shaved off and removed in pieces. This technique does not work for fibroids buried deep in the uterine wall, or pedunculated fibroids. Although this appears to be a promising technique that can be done as an outpatient procedure, there are really not enough data to support it s use in women who may want to become pregnant later. Thus, for now it is mostly a procedure for women who are past the point of childbearing or who do not desire further children. A final technique that is another newer development involves placing a catheter into a blood vessel, and threading this into the blood vessel that feeds the fibroid.
Material is injected that clots off the blood vessel, causing the fibroid to shrink over time.
Athough this also looks promising, it is a new technique and further research is needed. This is the second most common surgical procedure performed in the US, and for many reasons has become rather controversial. Others, after learning about the risks and benefits of this surgery, will choose to undergo hysterectomy because it offers the best choice given their set of symptoms. Despite what one might read in the newspaper or on the Internet, doctors do not make women undergo hysterectomy. A doctor has the responsibility to educate his or her patient on all available treatment options and their potential risks and benifits, whereas the patient has the responsibility to educate herself on her condition and the treatment options.