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Uterine fibroids and hysterectomy - Medications

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of uterine fibroids

Alternative Names

Hysterectomy and uterine fibroids; Leiomyoma; Myoma

Medications:

For fibroid pain relief, women can use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or naproxen (Aleve).

Drug treatment of fibroids uses methods that block or suppress estrogen, progesterone, or both hormones.

Hormonal Contraceptives

Oral contraceptives (OCs) are sometimes used to control the heavy menstrual bleeding associated with fibroids, but they do not help prevent fibroid growth. Newer types of continuous-dosing OCs reduce or eliminate the number of periods a woman has per year.

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) that release progestin can be very beneficial for reducing heavy bleeding. Specifically, the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system, or LNG-IUS (Mirena), has shown excellent results. Many doctors now recommend the LNG-IUS as a first-line treatment for heavy menstrual bleeding, particularly for women who may face hysterectomy (removal of uterus). [For more information, see In-Depth Report #100: Menstrual disorders.]

GnRH Agonists

Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) blocks the release of the reproductive hormones LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicular-stimulating hormone). As a result, the ovaries stop ovulating and no longer produce estrogen. GnRH agonists include goserelin (Zoladex), buserelin, a monthly injection of leuprolide (depot Lupron), and nafarelin (Synarel), a nasal spray. Such drugs may be used alone or in preparation for procedures used to destroy the uterine lining.

These drugs may be used in the following situations:

As preoperative treatment 3 - 4 months before uterine surgery. The use of GnRH agonists preoperatively reduce fibroid size and uterus volume, help correct any existing anemia due to blood loss, and reduce blood loss during surgery.
For women with fibroids nearing menopause, but only for a short period of time.

While GnRH agonists can reduce fibroid size by 30 - 90%, they have certain limitations:

They are not permanent cures, and fibroids regrow after the drugs are discontinued.
They are injected drugs and cannot be taken by mouth.
They are expensive.
Long-term use of GnRh agonists causes bone density loss, which can lead to osteoporosis.

Before using these drugs, the doctor should be certain that no other complicating conditions are present, particularly leiomyosarcoma (cancer). The use of these drugs can delay treatment of the malignancy and cause severe complications.

Commonly reported side effects, which can be severe in some women, include menopausal-like symptoms. These symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, weight gain, and depression. The side effects vary in intensity, depending on the GnRH agonist. They may be more intense with leuprolide and persist after the drug has been stopped.

The most important concern is possible osteoporosis from estrogen loss. Women should not take these drugs for more than 6 months.

GnRH treatments used alone do not prevent pregnancy. Furthermore, if a woman becomes pregnant during their use, there is some risk for birth defects.

Resources

www.asrm.com -- American Society for Reproductive Medicine
www.acog.org -- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
www.sirweb.org -- Society of Interventional Radiology
www.nuff.org -- National Uterine Fibroids Foundation
www.rsna.org -- Radiological Society of North America
www.radiologyinfo.org -- Radiology info from the American College of Radiology and the Radiological Society of North America
www.womenshealth.gov -- National Women's Health Information Center
www.nichd.nih.gov -- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

References

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ACOG practice bulletin. Alternatives to hysterectomy in the management of leiomyomas. Obstet Gynecol. 2008 Aug;112(2 Pt 1):387-400.

Edwards RD, Moss JG, Lumsden MA, Wu O, Murray LS, Twaddle S, et al. Uterine-artery embolization versus surgery for symptomatic uterine fibroids. N Engl J Med. 2007 Jan 25;356(4):360-70.

Evans P, Brunsell S. Uterine fibroid tumors: diagnosis and treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2007 May 15;75(10):1503-8.

Gabriel-Cox K, Jacobson GF, Armstrong MA, Hung YY, Learman LA. Predictors of hysterectomy after uterine artery embolization for leiomyoma. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Jun;196(6):588.e1-6.

Griffiths A, D'Angelo A, Amso N. Surgical treatment of fibroids for subfertility. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Jul 19;3:CD003857.

Hehenkamp WJ, Volkers NA, Donderwinkel PF, de Blok S, Birnie E, Ankum WM, et al. Uterine artery embolization versus hysterectomy in the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids (EMMY trial): peri- and postprocedural results from a randomized controlled trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2005 Nov;193(5):1618-29.

Jacoby VL, Grady D, Sawaya GF. Oophorectomy as a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2009 Feb;200(2):140.e1-9. Epub 2008 Nov 18.

Kaunitz AM. Progestin-releasing intrauterine systems and leiomyoma. Contraception. 2007 Jun;75(6 Suppl):S130-3. Epub 2007 Mar 9.

Kaunitz AM, Meredith S, Inki P, Kubba A, Sanchez-Ramos L. Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system and endometrial ablation in heavy menstrual bleeding: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Obstet Gynecol. 2009 May;113(5):1104-16.

Lethaby A, Ivanova V, Johnson NP. Total versus subtotal hysterectomy for benign gynaecological conditions. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006 Apr 19;(2):CD004993.

Olive DL, Lindheim SR, Pritts EA. Conservative surgical management of uterine myomas. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2006 Mar;33(1):115-24.

Parker WH, Broder MS, Chang E, Feskanich D, Farquhar C, Liu Z, et al. Ovarian conservation at the time of hysterectomy and long-term health outcomes in the nurses' health study. Obstet Gynecol. 2009 May;113(5):1027-37.

Rackow BW, Arici A. Options for medical treatment of myomas. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2006 Mar;33(1):97-113.

Smart OC, Hindley JT, Regan L, Gedroyc WG. Gonadotrophin-releasing hormone and magnetic-resonance-guided ultrasound surgery for uterine leiomyomata. Obstet Gynecol. 2006 Jul;108(1):49-54.

Van Voorhis B. A 41-year-old woman with menorrhagia, anemia, and fibroids: review of treatment of uterine fibroids. JAMA. 2009 Jan 7;301(1):82-93. Epub 2008 Dec 2.

Viswanathan M, Hartmann K, McKoy N, Stuart G, Rankins N, Thieda P, et al. Management of uterine fibroids: an update of the evidence. Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep). 2007 Jul;(154):1-122.

Volkers NA, Hehenkamp WJ, Birnie E, Ankum WM, Reekers JA. Uterine artery embolization versus hysterectomy in the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids: 2 years' outcome from the randomized EMMY trial. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Jun;196(6):519.e1-11.

Reviewed last on: 8/5/2009
Reviewed by Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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