Noah Rindos, MD: Management of Uterine Fibroids

Noah Rindos, MD, practices minimally invasive gynecology at Allegheny Health Network (AHN). During an interview with HCPLive®, he explained that the majority of women will develop fibroids in their lifetime but that many cases are asymptomatic.

For those that do get diagnosed with a fibroid, it's most likely because they have experienced symptoms like heavy menstrual bleeding and pain. There are different treatment options and Rindos said he approaches fibroid treatment similarly to anything else.

"We always have the option of expectant management, right?" he said. "So, sitting down and having a conversation about what your symptoms are, how much they're impacting your life, what your goals are around the subject, and, you know, are you overall living a pretty high quality life?"

Oftentimes, if a patient has made it into his office it's because their symptoms have been impacting their quality of life and they want to be proactive, Rindos said. Before considering a laproscopic procedure, or a myomectomy, to remove the fibroid there are other options, such as birth control pills or an intrauterine device (IUD), that can mitigate painful symptoms and bleeding.

"For some women, we can have some improvement with the use of an IUD," Rindos explained, "or for other women, they'll choose to have a more interventional option such as uterine fibroid embolization, where an interventional radiologist can actually do a very minimally invasive procedure where small access is gained through either the arm or the leg using one of the big blood vessels."

In uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), or uterine artery embolization (UAE), small beads are sent through the artery to inhibit bloody supply to the fibroid causing it to shrink. It's a great service, according to Rindos, and it's offered at AHN.