Duke’s expert gynecologists draw on the latest developments to treat uterine fibroids, which are growths of tissue found on the wall of the uterus.

Most uterine fibroids are harmless, non-cancerous tumors, and they affect 30 to 40 percent of premenopausal women and 70 to 80 percent of women at age 50.

However, you may need to have them removed or reduced if you experience:

• Heavy vaginal bleeding
• Pelvic pressure
• Pain
• Obstructive urinary and bowel symptoms
• Reproductive difficulties

Duke offers a full range of services for uterine fibroid diagnosis and treatment. Early detection may be critical for fertility success, so our physicians use diagnostic tools such as ultrasound, saline infusion sonography, and MRI to detect and locate fibroids.

Medical Treatments

Current medical therapies for fibroid management are limited. Drugs that reduce estrogen production, such as Lupron and Zoladex, have been found to be the most effective.

The Duke Center for Uterine Fibroid Biology and Therapy is continually researching new drug therapies to treat uterine fibroids. The center comprises physician investigators, basic scientists, and epidemiologists, and it has been a leader in developing new understanding of uterine fibroids.

Surgical and Non-Surgical Procedures

Traditional treatments for uterine fibroids have included hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) and myomectomy (surgical removal of individual fibroids).

However, Duke is at the forefront of new minimally invasive and non-invasive treatments. Such treatments can reduce recovery time and complications in qualified patients. They include:

• Laparoscopic and hysteroscopic myomectomy: Surgical removal of large or palpable fibroids

• Uterine artery embolization: Radiological procedure that reduces fibroid size 40-60 percent
• MRI-guided focused ultrasound: Cutting-edge, non-surgical treatment that removes fibroids while keeping surrounding tissues intact.

To learn more about MRI-guided focused ultrasound and other treatments available at Duke, contact fibroidcenter@mc.duke.edu.

Physicians

Physicians offering this service include:

• Andrews, Paul S.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / General Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Artis, Avis A.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / General Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Avery, Katrina H.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / General Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Behera, Millie A.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility
• Choi, Mina N.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / General Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Cole, MargEva M.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / General Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Copland, Susannah D.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility
• Duncan, Richard D. III
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / General Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Fetko, Linda L.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / General Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Filip, Stanley J.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery
• Harris, Charles O.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / General Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Heath, Stacey M.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / General Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Price, Thomas M.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility
• Smith, Ira Q.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / General Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Sobolewski, Craig J.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery
• Walmer, David K.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility
• Yeung, Patrick P.
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology / Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery

Locations

This service is available at:

• Duke Health Center at North Duke Street
  3116 North Duke Street, Durham, NC 27704
• Duke OB/GYN
  Duke Clinic 1J, 200 Trent Drive, Durham, NC 27710
• Harris & Smith OB/GYN
  300 Meadowmont Village Circle, Suite 311, Chapel Hill, NC 27517
• Harris & Smith OB/GYN
  4116 Capitol Street, Durham, NC 27704