Holland Hospital first in West Michigan to offer new uterine fibroid procedure
HOLLAND — A procedure now offered by Holland Hospital will provide a new option for those seeking treatment for uterine fibroids.
Holland Hospital is the first in West Michigan to utilize the Sonata System by Gynesonics to offer a non-invasive outpatient procedure for uterine fibroids.
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths around the uterus and can range in size from an apple seed to a grapefruit. They can cause symptoms including heavy menstrual bleeding, pressure or swelling in the abdomen, painful periods, frequent urination, constipation, infertility and pain during intercourse.
With the Sonata System, Holland Hospital can provide an incisionless treatment. It uses a miniature ultrasound probe accessed through the cervix and into the uterus. Once the fibroid is located, radiofrequency is applied without damaging surrounding tissue.
No tissue is cut or surgically removed, meaning the uterus is preserved and pregnancy remains possible for patients. Until recently, the most common surgical solution was a hysterectomy, an invasive surgical procedure to remove the uterus.
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“The Sonata procedure allows women to receive treatment for fibroids without needing a hysterectomy or a myomectomy, both of which have longer recovery times that affect the life of patients,” Kristyn Oswald of Holland Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology wrote in a statement.
“In most cases, Sonata allows patients to go home the same day without causing a major disruption to their daily life.”
Fibroids are common among women of childbearing age, the hospital said. Oswald suggests women struggling with fibroids speak to their doctor to see if they’re a candidate for the procedure.
— Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on Twitter @SentinelMitch.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland Hospital first in West Michigan to offer new uterine fibroid procedure
