If you have been diagnosed with uterine fibroids or think you may be experiencing symptoms of the ailment, you are not alone. Over 50% of women experience uterine fibroids at some point in their life, and the percentages are even higher for obese or African-American women. Uterine fibroids are the leading cause of hysterectomy, or removal of the uterus, a procedure that no woman wants to go through.

Thankfully, there has been tremendous advances in the treatment of uterine fibroids that allows you to live a normal, healthy life. Non-invasive methods are on the rise, giving women everywhere hope for the future. Here are a few quick notes on the condition, followed by your options for uterine fibroid removal:

What are uterine fibroids? Uterine fibroids are cysts that develop in your uterus. They are diagnosed by pelvic exam or ultrasound, and vary in treatment options depending on their size and severity.

What are the symptoms of fibroids? Symptoms of fibroid cysts include heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain or pressure, and frequent urination. Uterine fibroids are tricky, and why they cause excessive bleeding is still unclear. Sometimes, patients have no symptoms at all for a long period of time. It is crucial to know when you’re experiencing symptoms of uterine fibroids to know when to seek treatment in order to keep your treatment options open and potentially avoid a hysterectomy.

Treatment of uterine fibroids. While smaller uterine fibroids surgery options are available, such as a laparoscopy or a laparotomy, the most common treament of uterine fibroids used to be a hysterectomy. However, there is a new treatment called radiofrequency ablation, which is an outpatient surgery, allowing you to go home in a few hours and return to your normal schedule in five to nine days. There is also an MR guided focused ultrasound, which heats the fibroids to kill them and is completely non-invasive.

Thanks to these new non-invasive procedures, treatment of uterine fibroids is no longer limited to complicated surgeries and hysterectomies. You can now have a pain-free experience during the procedure return to your normal life as soon as possible. Talk to your doctor and see what option is best for you.