Innovative uterine fibroid treatment set to help Leeds women living in pain

Women in Leeds are now being offered a ‘groundbreaking’ new treatment to cure painful uterine fibroids.

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus. They are most common in women between the ages of 30 and 50, with four out of five women developing at least one fibroid at some point in their lives.

One in three women with fibroids experience symptoms that include heavy or painful periods, abdominal and back pain, a frequent need to urinate, constipation and pain during intercourse. Now the gynecology team at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) has introduced a pioneering new treatment called Sonata (Transcervical Fibroid Ablation) for patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids.

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Sonata uses ultrasound to locate and target individual fibroids, and radiofrequency energy is delivered to shrink the fibroids, which in turn reduces symptoms. Fibroids are treated from inside the uterus, so there are no incisions and the uterus remains intact. It is a revolutionary alternative to more invasive options such as hysterectomy (surgery to remove the entire uterus) or myomectomy (surgery to remove fibroids from the uterus).

The procedure can be performed in an outpatient appointment and takes less than an hour. 90% of women see an improvement in bleeding after three months. Patients benefit from a faster recovery time as local anesthetic is used, and a clinical trial found that fifty percent of treated women returned to normal activity the day after the procedure.

Dr Hlupekile Chipeta, consultant gynecologist and clinical head, performed the first Sonata treatment from LTHT at St James’s University Hospital. LTHT was one of the first trusts in Yorkshire to offer it to patients.

Dr. Chipeta explains: “Uterine fibroid symptoms can really affect a woman’s quality of life. We are excited to introduce Sonata as a new treatment option for women experiencing heavy periods caused by fibroids. It can be a very effective alternative to invasive surgery or medical treatment options.

“We know how important it is for patients to recover quickly and return to normal activity as soon as possible after treatment. Sonata offers this possibility. I encourage any woman with symptomatic fibroids to discuss with her doctor or nurse whether treatment with Sonata might be right for her.”

July is Fibroid Awareness Month. For more information on the condition and the new treatment, click here.

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