Transcervical fibroid ablation is one of the many treatment options for uterine fibroids. It is minimally invasive and can help some people find relief from symptoms like heavy bleeding.

What is transcervical fibroid ablation?

Transcervical fibroid ablation is a minimally-invasive procedure used to help treat symptomatic fibroids. There is no cutting, no general anesthesia, and most people can go home the same day.

During the procedure, the doctor inserts an ultrasound wand through the vagina, then places a small probe into each fibroid to deliver radiofrequency ablation (RFA). RFA uses radiofrequency waves to heat and kill the fibroid cells, which ultimately causes the fibroid to shrink.

After about eight weeks, many people see a significant decrease in heavy bleeding and other fibroid-related symptoms. 

Who should get transvaginal fibroid ablation?

The best fibroids treatment for you will depend on several factors, including the number, location, and size of your fibroids, as well as your personal goals and circumstances. 

Your doctor can help you decide which treatment is best, but in general, transcervical fibroid ablation may be an option if:

• You have fewer than five fibroids,
• The fibroids are intramural—located in the thick, muscular wall of the uterus, 
• The fibroids are not bigger than 5 cm in diameter, and
• Heavy bleeding is your main symptom.

Even if this does not describe your situation, your doctor may be able to combine transcervical fibroid ablation with other therapies, like medication, to help treat your symptoms.

An individualized approach

Gynecologic surgeon and director of NYU Langone’s Center for Fibroid Care, Taraneh Shirazian, M.D., says that clinicians should take an individualized approach to fibroid care, and consider the person as a whole being.

“It’s really about creating that personal plan,” she says. “That individual plan for each patient, making sure we address all of her life goals. If fertility, for example, is something that she wants later, we think about how the procedures or surgery would impact her future fertility.”

If you have symptomatic fibroids, speak with your doctor to see what treatment options may be right for you.

*NYU Langone Health. (2023, January 20). Tell Me More: Transcervical Fibroid Ablation [Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AItpBwNyg4E