Study discovers safe, effective oral treatment for uterine fibroids

Synopsis: Uterine fibroids are a common cause of heavy menstrual bleeding and pain in women of reproductive age, especially among women of color. An estimated $34 billion in healthcare costs are associated with uterine fibroids in the United States alone each year, yet there are few treatment options other than surgery. Now a University of Chicago Medicine researcher working with an international team of scientists has developed a daily oral combination therapy that is reliable, safe and effective for long-term treatment of uterine fibroids. “This discovery is an important new tool that will be an important addition to the field,” said Ayman Al-Hendy, MD, PhD, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and lead author of the study, which was published February 17, 2021 in the New England Journal of Medicine.