Atrium Health Navicent is now offering Sonata Treatment for uterine fibroids. The health system is the first in central Georgia to offer this new, incisionless fibroid treatment option.
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors or growths within the uterus. They are the most common non-cancerous tumors in women of childbearing age, and it’s estimated that about 65 percent of women have fibroids by time they turn 65. For Black women, that number is 70 percent.
Sonata Treatment, an incision-free outpatient procedure that treats certain types of uterine fibroids, uses ultrasound technology at the tip of a handpiece to locate fibroids and treat them from inside the uterus. Radiofrequency energy shrinks the fibroid while a patient is under sedation.
Because the procedure doesn’t require an incision, patients experience less pain, less bleeding and faster recovery. General anesthesia is not required for most patients.
“This is a life-changing tool for patients suffering from painful uterine fibroids, particularly those who may not have much time to take off from work to recover, who may not be good candidates for anesthesia, or who have had multiple abdominal surgeries,” said Dr. R. Edward Betcher, OB/GYN department chair for Atrium Health Navicent. Betcher is a specialist in minimally invasive gynecological surgery and was among the first surgeons to use the technology while working in Louisiana prior to joining Atrium Health Navicent. “I’m thrilled that Atrium Health Navicent has invested in this technology to help more central Georgia women live healthier, fuller lives free from fibroid pain.”
Uterine fibroids can cause pain and abnormal bleeding from the uterus. Sometimes, fibroids can make it difficult for a woman to get pregnant or maintain a pregnancy. Large fibroids can also put pressure on other organs and tissues in the pelvis, leading to frequent pain.
Fibroids can cause uncomfortable or sometimes painful symptoms, such as:
Heavy bleeding or painful periods
Anemia
Bleeding between periods
Pressure in the pelvis and lower abdomen
Frequent urination
Pain during sex
Lower back pain
Reproductive problems, such as infertility and miscarriages
Obstetrical problems, such as increased likelihood of cesarean section
There’s a spectrum of treatments available for those with uterine fibroids, ranging from birth control pills to IUDs (intrauterine devices) to surgery. The type of treatment used for uterine fibroids depends on the number of fibroids, symptom severity and whether a woman desires to conserve her uterus.
Sonata Treatment is FDA-approved for use in the United States and has been approved and widely used in Europe as well. It is suitable for many types of fibroids.
The best candidates for the procedure are women with uterine fibroids who experience heavy periods, irregular periods or bad cramping. It’s a new option for women who prefer not to undergo hysterectomy and for whom other fibroid therapies have been ineffective.
Less complicated than invasive treatment options such as hysterectomies — which may have a four- to six-week recovery time — the new procedure gets women back to their normal activities in two days.
Patients see improvement in three months, although it takes about six months for fibroids to completely degenerate.
To learn more about Sonata Treatment, schedule an appointment at Atrium Health Navicent Women’s Care by calling 479-633-1821, or ask for a referral from your OB/GYN for the procedure. To find a doctor, visit www.NavicentHealth.org and click “Find A Doctor.