Hormone Therapy for Uterine Fibroids
Fast relief from your uterine fibroid symptoms
Hormone therapy is a nonsurgical treatment for uterine fibroids. Hormone therapy does not cure fibroids, but it can help manage your symptoms of pain, heavy bleeding and pelvic pressure.
Overview
Hormone therapy is a nonsurgical treatment for uterine fibroids. Hormone therapy does not cure fibroids, but it can help manage your symptoms of pain, heavy bleeding and pelvic pressure.
If you have uterine fibroids, there are different kinds of hormone therapies available that may help reduce the size of your fibroids and control heavy bleeding. You and your doctor will determine which medicines are best for you based on your symptoms.
Hormone Therapy for Uterine Fibroids
Androgens
Androgens are the “male” hormones, including testosterone. Everyone’s body makes certain levels of androgens. When taken as medicine, androgens can stop menstruation, correct anemia and shrink fibroids. Side effects may include weight gain, acne and hair growth.
Antihormonal agents
Antihormonal medicines, such as mifepristone, may slow or stop the growth of fibroids. Though the Food and Drug Administration has not approved the use of antihormonal agents for the treatment of uterine fibroids, your doctor may prescribe them for an off-label use.
Birth control pills
Birth control pills contain hormones that can help control heavy bleeding and painful periods. The pill is only effective if you take it regularly each day. In some women, the birth control pill may cause fibroids to grow larger. Other possible side effects of the birth control pill include headaches, nausea, elevated blood pressure or a change in sex drive.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa)
GnRHa medicines, such as Lupron, prevent your body from making the hormones that cause ovulation and menstruation. The medicines can also reduce the size of fibroids. You can take a GnRHa by injection, nasal spray or implantation. Your doctor may prescribe a GnRHa to shrink fibroids before surgery or to treat anemia caused by heavy bleeding. In most cases, GnRHa medicine is only used for six months or less because they can cause menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and bone loss.
Progesterone injections
Regular injections of progesterone, such as Depo-Provera, can control heavy bleeding and stop fibroid growth.
Progestin-releasing intrauterine device (IUD)
An IUD is a small, T-shaped device placed in your uterus during a simple procedure in your physician’s office. Your doctor can implant an IUD infused with progestin which can help reduce heavy, painful bleeding. An IUD is not recommended if you have a large uterine cavity.
Relief from uterine fibroids
You should begin to feel relief from your uterine fibroid symptoms within a few days to two weeks of beginning hormone therapy. You should notice reduced pain as fibroids stop growing or shrink and less bleeding with each menstrual cycle. In most cases, you will notice a change in your symptoms within a few days. If you stop taking the medicine, the fibroids may grow back and symptoms will return.
Side effects of hormone therapy
Hormone therapy medicines are generally safe, but they can have side effects, including bone loss. If you are taking a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist, your doctor may prescribe medicine to replace the hormones that are blocked in order to help keep your bones strong. Talk to your doctor about any side effects you experience from hormone therapy.
What to Expect
If you have uterine fibroids, there are different kinds of hormone therapies available that may help reduce the size of your fibroids and control heavy bleeding. You and your doctor will determine which medicines are best for you based on your symptoms.
Hormone Therapy for Uterine Fibroids
Androgens
Androgens are the “male” hormones, including testosterone. Everyone’s body makes certain levels of androgens. When taken as medicine, androgens can stop menstruation, correct anemia and shrink fibroids. Side effects may include weight gain, acne and hair growth.
Antihormonal agents
Antihormonal medicines, such as mifepristone, may slow or stop the growth of fibroids. Though the Food and Drug Administration has not approved the use of antihormonal agents for the treatment of uterine fibroids, your doctor may prescribe them for an off-label use.
Birth control pills
Birth control pills contain hormones that can help control heavy bleeding and painful periods. The pill is only effective if you take it regularly each day. In some women, the birth control pill may cause fibroids to grow larger. Other possible side effects of the birth control pill include headaches, nausea, elevated blood pressure or a change in sex drive.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa)
GnRHa medicines, such as Lupron, prevent your body from making the hormones that cause ovulation and menstruation. The medicines can also reduce the size of fibroids. You can take a GnRHa by injection, nasal spray or implantation. Your doctor may prescribe a GnRHa to shrink fibroids before surgery or to treat anemia caused by heavy bleeding. In most cases, GnRHa medicine is only used for six months or less because they can cause menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and bone loss.
Progesterone injections
Regular injections of progesterone, such as Depo-Provera, can control heavy bleeding and stop fibroid growth.
Progestin-releasing intrauterine device (IUD)
An IUD is a small, T-shaped device placed in your uterus during a simple procedure in your physician’s office. Your doctor can implant an IUD infused with progestin which can help reduce heavy, painful bleeding. An IUD is not recommended if you have a large uterine cavity.
Relief from uterine fibroids
You should begin to feel relief from your uterine fibroid symptoms within a few days to two weeks of beginning hormone therapy. You should notice reduced pain as fibroids stop growing or shrink and less bleeding with each menstrual cycle. In most cases, you will notice a change in your symptoms within a few days. If you stop taking the medicine, the fibroids may grow back and symptoms will return.
Side effects of hormone therapy
Hormone therapy medicines are generally safe, but they can have side effects, including bone loss. If you are taking a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist, your doctor may prescribe medicine to replace the hormones that are blocked in order to help keep your bones strong. Talk to your doctor about any side effects you experience from hormone therapy.