How Are Uterine Fibroids Treated?

Several uterine fibroid treatment options can get you back to living your life without pain and inconvenience. Learn how you can determine the best treatment for you.

Updated May 06, 2025

By Melissa Yurkanin, DO, Obstetrician and Gynecologist, Virtua OB/GYN

If you’ve been diagnosed with uterine fibroids, rest assured that there are several treatment options that can help you feel good again and get you back to living your life without pain, fear, or inconvenience.

There’s no “one-size-fits-all” uterine fibroid treatment. Your OB/GYN will consider your age, symptoms, and fertility goals to help pinpoint the best fibroid treatment options.

Uterine fibroid treatment options

Watchful waiting

If your symptoms are mild, you may choose to wait until menopause, when fibroids typically shrink, and only seek additional treatment if your symptoms worsen.

Birth control

Some low-dose birth control pills can help control symptoms like heavy bleeding without making your fibroids grow. Other methods, such as progesterone injections or progesterone-releasing intrauterine devices (IUDs), can also help control fibroid symptoms. Be sure to ask your OB/GYN if your birth control method effectively treats fibroids.

Medication

Some medications that suppress ovarian function can temporarily shrink fibroids and relieve symptoms. However, stopping the medication may result in the fibroids growing back and causing symptoms again.

Procedures and surgery

There are several procedures and surgical options for treating fibroids. The best choice for you depends on your age, your desire to get pregnant, and the number, size, and location of the fibroids. These procedures include:

Sonata treatment: Sonata is a safe and effective uterine fibroid treatment offered by specially trained Virtua OB/GYNs. It combines ultrasound and radiofrequency energy to locate, target, and destroy uterine fibroids from within the uterus. There are no incisions — the procedure is performed transcervically, meaning the device goes through the vagina and cervix and into the uterus. With this approach, the uterus stays intact, helping women avoid hysterectomy.
Acessa treatment: Acessa is a minimally invasive, laparoscopic treatment for uterine fibroids. Like Sonata, it uses radiofrequency ablation to shrink fibroids. During the procedure, a small probe is inserted into the abdomen to deliver heat directly to the fibroids, causing them to decrease in size gradually. This procedure can alleviate symptoms like heavy bleeding and pelvic pain, with a relatively short recovery time compared to traditional surgical options.
Uterine artery embolization: An interventional radiologist performs uterine artery embolization. The doctor threads a thin tube through a blood vessel to the fibroid. Small particles are injected to block blood flow, causing the fibroid to shrink.
Myomectomy (surgery to remove fibroids): Myomectomy is used to remove fibroids. Depending on the location and size of the fibroids, this surgery can be performed vaginally, laparoscopically (through small incisions), robotically, or through an abdominal incision.
Hysterectomy: Hysterectomy, the surgical removal of the uterus, ends fibroid symptoms and guarantees they won’t return. Most hysterectomies are performed using minimally invasive or robotic surgical techniques.