Pharmaceuticals
Many physicians will prescribe birth control pills as a means of controlling excessive bleeding caused by fibroids. Other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs) may be prescribed for pain relief. Birth control pills effectively trick your body into thinking it is pregnant.
There are several potential side effects of the use of birth control pills, including risk of high blood pressure, development of blood clots, increased risk of heart disease, and/or liver disease. Data suggests that fibroids may re-grow after this treatment ends.
GnRH Agonists can also be prescribed when symptoms are not controlled by birth control pills, or as a first attempt in controlling fibroid symptoms. GnRH agonists decrease the production of estrogen in the ovaries, which may reduce the size of fibroids and help manage the associated symptoms. Because of the decrease in estrogen production there may be some side effects, such as hot flashes or mood swings. Furthermore, there may be some bone loss associated with prolonged use of GnRH agonists. Data suggests that fibroids may re-grow after this treatment ends.