Title:Highlights on Medical Treatment of Uterine Fibroids
Volume: 27
Issue: 36
Author(s): Stefano Angioni, Maurizio N. D’Alterio and Angelos Daniilidis*
Affiliation:
- Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hippokration Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki,Greece
Keywords:
Uterine fibroids, selective progesterone receptor modulators, medical therapy, gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonists, gonadotrophin-
releasing hormone antagonists, elagolix, ulipristal acetate, vilaprisan.
Abstract: Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas or myomas) are the most frequent benign tumors in women. Heavy
menstrual bleeding with resultant anemia, dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, infertility, urinary symptoms and
constipation are generally associated with uterine fibroids (UFs). Although strategies mainly resort to surgical
intervention, medical treatments are considered the first-line treatment to preserve fertility and avoid surgery.
The aim of this review is to offer available and the newest medical treatment options for symptomatic UFs.
Various medical therapies are now available for women with uterine fibroids, although each therapy has its own
advantages and disadvantages. Our topic specifically explores gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs
and selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs), but also provides the reader with useful advice
on the therapies for fibroids available after the recent European Medicines Agency (EMA) warning
(EMA/160220/2020). The treatment options depend on the personal treatment objectives of the patients, in addition
to treatment effectiveness and necessity for recurrent interventions.
