New Technology Treats Fibroids Without Surgery

Fibroids can cause debilitating symptoms like heavy, painful periods, pelvic pressure and frequent urination. They can also cause infertility. 

When it comes to fibroid treatment, options range from medication, like hormonal birth control, to surgery. 

Hackensack Meridian Health now offers a new, nonsurgical fibroid treatment option called Sonata. 

Here, Susan Pacana, M.D., an OB-GYN and minimally invasive gynecologic surgeon at Hackensack Meridian Medical Group in Jackson, explains how Sonata works, including how it eases painful fibroid symptoms and can help you feel better.

How Are Fibroids Treated With Sonata?

The medical term for the procedure is transcervical radiofrequency ablation, which means the fibroids are treated with energy for several seconds or minutes. This causes the fibroid to shrink over the course of a few months. 

It’s an outpatient procedure done in the hospital under anesthesia. You can return home the same day. 

“You’re completely asleep, and everything is done vaginally, so there are no incisions,” says Dr. Pacana. 

Here’s how it works: First, your doctor uses a tool that looks like a little telescope, called a hysteroscope, to look inside your uterus. Then, the Sonata device, which resembles a wand, is inserted into your uterus. The instrument helps your doctor locate the fibroids, using an ultrasound image; then, they send radiofrequency pulses into each fibroid.

“Each fibroid is heated up to about 105 degrees Celsius to destroy it,” says Dr. Pacana. 

Afterward, the fibroids shrink and symptoms are reduced, typically within three months of the procedure. 

Are There Any Side Effects of Sonata Fibroid Treatment?

After the procedure, you might feel some cramping, says Dr. Pacana. The discomfort is similar to period cramps. 

“Then, in the days and weeks following, sometimes there is a little bit of pain or irregular bleeding, similar to a blood clot, while the fibroid is dying off,” she adds.

Most people can return to their normal activities the day after the procedure.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Sonata Fibroid Treatment?

Sonata is primarily used to treat fibroid symptoms like pain and heavy bleeding. It is not used to treat infertility. That said, some women have conceived and had successful pregnancies and deliveries after the procedure, but the data is limited, notes Dr. Pacana.

To see if the procedure is right for you, your doctor will do an ultrasound and possibly an MRI to see where your fibroids are located. 

“People who have fibroids that are either in the [uterine] cavity or mostly in the lining of the uterus are generally good candidates for it,” says Dr. Pacana. If the fibroids are located too close to your bladder and bowel, Sonata isn’t a good choice, as it could damage those organs. 

“Right now, it doesn’t have a contraindication for getting pregnant afterwards, but it’s still being studied,” says Dr. Pacana.

The Bottom Line

Fibroids can cause symptoms that are challenging to live with. Dr. Pacana hopes that new treatments like Sonata make women more likely to treat them early. 

“It’s a good idea to treat fibroids when they’re on the smaller side, as opposed to waiting and watching them,” she says. “When fibroids are only 2 centimeters, they’re pretty easily removed; when they get bigger, a hysterectomy or other invasive treatment might be necessary.”

Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our source(s): Susan Pacana, M.D.
• Make an appointment online with an OB-GYN near you, or call 800-822-8905. 
• Learn more about our gynecology services.

The material provided through Healthier You is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.