What are fibroids?
Fibroids are benign (noncancerous) tissue growths that develop inside the uterus. They’re extremely common, with up to 80% of women developing fibroids by the time they’re 50 years old.
For many women, fibroids are painless and cause no symptoms at all. But, for others, it’s just the opposite. Some fibroids can cause persistent and potentially debilitating symptoms, which is why 6.5 American women need fibroid treatment every year.
What causes fibroids?
Medical experts still aren’t completely sure what causes uterine fibroids, but they believe that several factors could contribute. Hormones clearly play a big role, because when hormone levels are highest (during pregnancy) fibroids tend to grow, and they shrink with hormone suppression. Genetics may also play a role in the development of fibroid as well.
What symptoms do fibroids cause?
Uterine fibroids can cause some highly unpleasant symptoms, including:
- Heavy periods
- Pelvic pain
- Lower back pain
- Abdominal pain
- Feeling of fullness in the pelvic area
- Bloating
- Abdominal swelling
- Pain during sex
- Increased urinary frequency
Fibroids can also cause or contribute to infertility. Ultimately, fibroids can cause truly debilitating symptoms. If you’re dealing with these painful issues, you deserve a solution — and that’s when it’s time to visit Advanced OB/GYNE Associates to talk about treatment.
How are fibroids treated?
There are many options for fibroid treatment, including:
- Birth control pills
- Hormone-suppressing medications
- Surgical fibroid removal (myomectomy)
- Fibroid embolization
- Hysterectomy (uterus removal)
In the past, most women started with medication and then considered surgery if the medication didn’t yield symptom relief. But, surgeries like myomectomy and hysterectomy are still major procedures, even when performed using minimally invasive techniques.
Advanced OB/GYNE Associates now offers a new alternative called Acessa®, an advanced procedure for effective minimally invasive fibroid treatment.
How does Acessa for fibroids work?
During the Acessa procedure, your doctor uses tiny incisions as entry points for an ultrasound probe, miniature camera, and Acessa handpiece. Then, they use the ultrasound to locate your uterine fibroids.
Next, your doctor uses the Acessa handpiece to pierce the fibroid. The Acessa handpiece delivers radiofrequency heat into the fibroid, which triggers its shrinkage over time.
You’ll rest in the recovery area for two hours, and can then return home that same day. Most women return to their regular activities in four or five days. Reduced bleeding and pain relief are the most common effects of Acessa, and most women experience maximum benefits of Acessa three to six months after the procedure.
In treatment surveys, 94% of women were happy with their Acessa results, and 98% said they’d recommend the procedure to a friend with difficult uterine fibroid symptoms.
To learn more about how fibroid treatment can stop your pain and get you back to a full life, call Advanced OB/GYNE Associates, or click on the online scheduling button now.
“Frequently Asked Questions”
Who is this procedure for?
The Acessa procedure is recommended for pre-menopausal women (typically younger than 55 years old)1 who are tired of living with the ongoing pain and discomfort of fibroids and are looking for a minimally invasive option that allows them to keep their uterus and return to daily life quickly after the procedure.1
What size, location, and types of fibroids can Acessa treat?
The size and location of fibroids are important factors in what procedure is right for you. That’s why physicians do an MRI or ultrasound prior to determining if you are a candidate for the procedure.
The Acessa procedure has been studied on fibroids up to 7CM, The procedure can be used to treat most types of symptomatic fibroids, including subserosal, intramural, transmural, and certain submucosal.1
How does Acessa compare to other common fibroid treatment options?
Vs. Hysterectomy – The Acessa procedure allows you to keep your uterus and has a quicker recovery time than a hysterectomy. However, hysterectomy is a definitive treatment, so after recovery, there is no chance fibroid symptoms will return.
Vs. Myomectomy – Myomectomy cuts fibroids and surgically removes fibroid tissues from the uterus. The Acessa procedure, by comparison, does not require cutting or suturing within the uterus.2 Myomectomy may be considered a minimally invasive surgery because incisions into the abdomen can be small. The Acessa procedure may be a less invasive option because there are zero incisions on the uterine surface (serosa) that require suturing, and only 3 small incisions on the skin (myomectomy typically requires 4 to 6 incisions in the skin).
Vs. UAE - UAE involves ischemic necrosis which consists of the tissue slowly dying due to lack of blood supply and typically involves an overnight stay for pain management.3 The Acessa procedure uses coagulative necrosis which destroys the fibroid cells and nerve endings with heat and results in the reduction of the fibroid volume over time.1,4 After the Acessa procedure, patients typically return home the same day. UAE is performed by interventional radiologists. The Acessa procedure is performed by minimally invasive gynecologic surgeons.
How does the procedure work?
- The clinical terminology for the procedure is Laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation (Lap-RFA) for fibroids.
- The Acessa procedure is an outpatient procedure, and patients generally go home the same day, on NSAIDS.1
- The Acessa procedure works by heating the fibroid cells using radiofrequency ablation. The treated fibroid cell shrinks overtime, ultimately resolving fibroid symptoms.
- After the fibroid is treated, the consistency of the fibroid tissue changes. Imagine a hard baseball turning into a soft marshmallow.4,5
- The change in the consistency is what creates the relief from the fibroid symptoms.
- The treated fibroid tissue is not harmful, and typically gets reabsorbed into the body.
- The Acessa system handpiece is designed to treat only the fibroid tissue and does not require suturing to the uterine lining. As a result, the healthy uterine tissue around the fibroid is left intact.
Are there external scars?
There are a minimum of three incisions, one in the belly button, one above the bikini line, and one small incision that does not typically leave a scar by the bikini line.
Where can I learn more?
Learn more about the Acessa procedure at https://acessaprocedure.com/
If the fibroids are not physically removed, how does Acessa work?
Studies show that fibroids do not have to be completely removed to resolve symptoms.1 Treating the fibroid cells so they shrink and stop putting pressure on the uterus may help to resolve symptoms. The data in the IDE clinical study showed even a 45.1% average shrinkage in fibroid volume can result in significant improvement in heavy periods, pelvic pain, and bulk.
As a reminder, the Acessa procedure is a treatment for benign (non-cancerous) symptomatic fibroids. If patients are at risk for cancer or malignancy, the Acessa procedure is not the appropriate treatment.
To summarize, the Acessa procedure works by heating the fibroid cells from the inside out, not by removing the fibroid. Cell tissues die when they reach a certain temperature. The Acessa procedure is designed to heat the fibroid tissue to the point that the tissue dies. The dead fibroid tissue shrinks and shrivels over time. The dead fibroid tissue is not harmful. It gets absorbed by the body, just like any dead tissue cell.2
What are common results for the Acessa procedure?
- Most patients report they have significantly lighter periods and alleviated pelvic pain and pressure.1
- In clinical studies, there was an average shrinkage of 45% in fibroid size post-procedure. This number is contingent on where the fibroid is located and the size. 1
- Women typically see the most symptom improvement within 3 months of the procedure with continued improvement throughout the first year. 1
- Studies have shown both clinically and statistically significant reduction in period blood loss.1
- Significant reduction in fibroid and uterine volume. 1
- BY THE NUMBERS:
- 98% reported that they would probably or definitely recommend the procedure to their friends with the same health problem.1
- 94% of patients responded that the treatment had been somewhat, moderately, or very effective in eliminating their symptoms.1
- Only 11% of patients required additional reintervention after the Acessa procedure.1
Why haven’t I heard of Acessa before? Is it brand new?
Laparoscopic RFA was first performed on fibroids in 1999 by Dr. Bruce Lee.2 After many successful studies, the original Acessa system was FDA-cleared in November 2012. Since 2012, physicians have performed over 4,000 procedures to date.5 The most advanced technology, the Acessa Lap-RFA system, was FDA-cleared in 2018.
Your physician can explain the potential complications of the Acessa procedure, as well as those of other available fibroid therapies.
Is it covered by insurance?
Many insurance companies and Medicaid carriers cover the procedure. We suggest scheduling an appointment with a physician trained in the Acessa procedure to discuss whether the procedure is appropriate for you. If the Acessa procedure is a match for your fibroid treatment, then your physician’s office will request insurance approval in advance by submitting a pre-authorization request.
Notes:
“Acessa Procedure” - Laparoscopic Radiofrequency ablation of fibroids.
References:
https://acessaprocedure.com/
https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/uterine-fibroids#:~:text=About%2020%20percent%20to%2080,fibroids%20hard%20to%20live%20with.
https://www.fibroid.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Acessa_Brochure.pdf
https://www.fibroid.com/treatments/acessa/#:~:text=The%20Acessa%20procedure%20is%20a,uterine%20tissue%20is%20not%20affected.
