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Video

Video: Uterine fibroids treatments: Watchful waiting an option

By Mayo Clinic staff

Transcript

Roger Harms, M.D., Mayo Clinic specialist in obstetrics-gynecology

"Watchful waiting" is a phrase we use to refer to just monitoring the presence and growth of uterine fibroids. A majority of women who have uterine fibroids have them not change at all from the time of their first recognition for the rest of their life. And so, having just found them does not indicate that there's any real present problem. Being able to follow them over the years will detect if there were a change that would cause some concern, and the majority of (the) time nothing changes. There's no problem that exists, and so waiting watchfully is quite appropriate.

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References
  1. The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists. Alternatives to hysterectomy in the management of leiomyomas. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2008;112:387.
  2. Harms RW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 28, 2009.

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April 21, 2009

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