There are several fibroid treatment options available, which means surgery isn't the only choice. Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths of the uterus. They can affect any woman, but they most often appear in women of childbearing age. Fibroids are also known as fibromyomas, leiomyomas or myomas.

How Common Are Fibroids?
It is estimated that three out of four women experience uterine fibroids at some point during their lives. Yet many women are unaware that they have fibroids, because there are often no symptoms or the symptoms are overlooked. Uterine fibroids do not increase a women‘s risk of developing uterine cancer, but they can make it difficult or impossible for a woman to conceive by preventing fertilized eggs from implanting in the uterine walls.

• Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE): This new treatment uses a catheter, inserted through a leg artery, to inject tiny particles into the fibroid that block the flow of blood. Over time, the fibroid shrinks. There is a low risk of damage to the uterus with this procedure; however, the surgeon must work with X-rays to perform it, which poses risks to a woman's egg cells.
• Hormone Therapy: Drugs that reduce estrogen production can be used to shrink fibroids temporarily. Use of these drugs can make it difficult to conceive or to carry a child to term, but there is little risk to the uterus itself.
• Hysterectomy: Prescribed only in serious cases, this surgical procedure is the only permanent solution for fibroids. In a hysterectomy, the uterus is removed. It ends the ability to have children. The patient can also opt to have the ovaries removed, which will bring on menopause.
• Myomectomy: In this surgical procedure, the fibroids are removed, leaving the uterus intact. There is some risk of scarring that can affect the ability to conceive. There is also a high chance that fibroids will return and the procedure will need to be performed again. 

  There are two types of myomectomy. In an abdominal myomectomy, the doctor opens the abdomen to get to the fibroids. This procedure is often necessary if the fibroids are very large and located deep in the uterus. This surgery is more involved, may require hospitalization and results in a larger scar.

  In a Laparoscopic myomectomy, the doctor makes a small incision in the abdomen and uses laparoscopic instruments to remove the fibroids. This procedure works for fibroids that are small in size and number. This procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and results in a fine surgical scar.
   

• Hysteroscopic Resection: In this procedure, a hysteroscope, or thin telescope, is inserted through the cervix. The doctor uses a laser or electric probe to remove the fibroids. Many women choose this surgery because no incision is made and it can be performed on an outpatient basis. There is a risk of uterine scarring that could impact attempts to conceive.
• Lifestyle Changes: If fibroids aren't interfering with your daily life, making simple lifestyle changes may help to shrink them without surgery. Avoiding saturated fats, eating whole grains and getting enough exercise can all help to shrink fibroids naturally.
• Waiting It Out: Because fibroid growth is triggered by excess estrogen, fibroids often shrink after menopause. Women who are concerned about their ability to conceive can elect to live with the condition until menopause begins, then opt for surgery if fibroids don't clear up on their own.

Most women find that they can live with fibroids by simply making some lifestyle changes. If large or numerous fibroids are causing pain or health problems, surgical options may need to be considered. Be sure to discuss the risks to reproductive health in depth with your doctor, so that you can find the treatment that offers the best chance of having children.