Abstract
Uterine fibroids are common benign tumors that occur in up to 80% of women. Approximately half of the women affected experience considerable physical, psychological, and economic burdens and impact on quality of life due to symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, and infertility. Several medical and surgical options are available to treat uterine fibroids; however, healthcare providers may benefit from practical guidance in the development of individualized treatment plans based on a personalized approach. Medical treatments and minimally invasive procedures are generally preferred by most patients before considering more invasive, higher risk surgical interventions. In general, patient-centered, uterine-preserving procedures may be prioritized based on the patient’s goals and the clinical scenario. Occasionally, hysterectomy may be the preferred treatment option for some patients who require definitive treatment. This call-to-action highlights recent challenges to patient care, including radical shifts in physician–patient interactions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and recent changes to evidence-based, clinically approved therapies. This report also reviews contemporary recommendations for women’s health providers in the diagnosis and medical and surgical management of uterine fibroids. This call-to-action aims to empower healthcare providers to optimize the quality of care for women with uterine fibroids utilizing the best available evidence and best practices.
Highlights
Several key events took place during 2020 and the COVID19 pandemic that have impacted how physicians diagnose and treat uterine fibroids
Some evidence-based guidelines [2] have been updated with guidance for the management of uterine fibroids, not all have been updated; more recently available treatment options may not be reflected in existing guidelines
Uterine fibroids are benign, monoclonal neoplasms that form in the myometrium and are associated with symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB), bulk-related symptoms, and reproductive dysfunction [3]
Summary
Several key events took place during 2020 and the COVID19 pandemic that have impacted how physicians diagnose and treat uterine fibroids. Several options for medical management are currently available to decrease uterine fibroid size, reduce menstrual blood loss, improve hemoglobin levels, and/or improve fibroidassociated symptoms (Fig. 1 and Table 1) [31, 40,41,42].
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