Uterine fibroids — why you should choose tailored therapies based on the joint decision of the physician and the patient

Uterine fibroids (UFs) are the most common benign tumors of the myometrium, affecting up to 70% women by age 50. Although many cases remain asymptomatic, symptomatic UFs can significantly reduce quality of life through excessive bleeding, anemia, pelvic pain, infertility, and obstetric complications...

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Main Authors: Michal Ciebiera, Tomasz Lozinski, Ayman Al-Hendy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Via Medica 2025-07-01
Series:Ginekologia Polska
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.viamedica.pl/ginekologia_polska/article/view/107627
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author Michal Ciebiera
Tomasz Lozinski
Ayman Al-Hendy
author_facet Michal Ciebiera
Tomasz Lozinski
Ayman Al-Hendy
author_sort Michal Ciebiera
collection DOAJ
description Uterine fibroids (UFs) are the most common benign tumors of the myometrium, affecting up to 70% women by age 50. Although many cases remain asymptomatic, symptomatic UFs can significantly reduce quality of life through excessive bleeding, anemia, pelvic pain, infertility, and obstetric complications. Despite the availability of various conservative treatments — including pharmacotherapy, uterine artery embolization, and ultrasound thermoablation — surgical interventions, particularly hysterectomy, remain the dominant approach in many countries. This discrepancy between evidence-based recommendations and routine practice highlights the persistence of a paternalistic model of care, where patients are often excluded from treatment decisions and not informed about alternatives. Emerging concepts such as shared decision making (SDM) and personalized therapy emphasize the need to adapt treatment plans to each woman’s clinical profile, reproductive goals, and preferences. SDM fosters trust, better adherence to therapy, and improved acceptance of complications by actively involving patients in choosing their care. The development of modern pharmacological options, like GnRH analogs, further expands possibilities for effective, reversible, fertility-preserving treatments. A paradigm shift toward patient-centered, individualized management is essential to address ethical challenges, reduce unnecessary hysterectomies, and improve outcomes. Implementing SDM and expanding access to conservative therapies require systemic changes in reimbursement, training, and patient education to ensure that care focuses not only on the disease but on the woman as a whole.
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spelling doaj-art-fbb56e82acce47dcb739c8874cdc67392025-08-21T06:11:43ZengVia MedicaGinekologia Polska0017-00112543-67672025-07-0196710.5603/gpl.107627Uterine fibroids — why you should choose tailored therapies based on the joint decision of the physician and the patientMichal Ciebiera0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5780-5983Tomasz Lozinski1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5129-5262Ayman Al-Hendy2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8778-4447Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, PolandDevelopment and Research Center of Non-Invasive Therapies, Pro-Familia Hospital, Rzeszow, PolandDepartment of Medical Sciences, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab EmiratesUterine fibroids (UFs) are the most common benign tumors of the myometrium, affecting up to 70% women by age 50. Although many cases remain asymptomatic, symptomatic UFs can significantly reduce quality of life through excessive bleeding, anemia, pelvic pain, infertility, and obstetric complications. Despite the availability of various conservative treatments — including pharmacotherapy, uterine artery embolization, and ultrasound thermoablation — surgical interventions, particularly hysterectomy, remain the dominant approach in many countries. This discrepancy between evidence-based recommendations and routine practice highlights the persistence of a paternalistic model of care, where patients are often excluded from treatment decisions and not informed about alternatives. Emerging concepts such as shared decision making (SDM) and personalized therapy emphasize the need to adapt treatment plans to each woman’s clinical profile, reproductive goals, and preferences. SDM fosters trust, better adherence to therapy, and improved acceptance of complications by actively involving patients in choosing their care. The development of modern pharmacological options, like GnRH analogs, further expands possibilities for effective, reversible, fertility-preserving treatments. A paradigm shift toward patient-centered, individualized management is essential to address ethical challenges, reduce unnecessary hysterectomies, and improve outcomes. Implementing SDM and expanding access to conservative therapies require systemic changes in reimbursement, training, and patient education to ensure that care focuses not only on the disease but on the woman as a whole.https://journals.viamedica.pl/ginekologia_polska/article/view/107627uterine fibroidleiomyomapatient-tailored therapyshared decision makingtherapy
spellingShingle Michal Ciebiera
Tomasz Lozinski
Ayman Al-Hendy
Uterine fibroids — why you should choose tailored therapies based on the joint decision of the physician and the patient
Ginekologia Polska
uterine fibroid
leiomyoma
patient-tailored therapy
shared decision making
therapy
title Uterine fibroids — why you should choose tailored therapies based on the joint decision of the physician and the patient
title_full Uterine fibroids — why you should choose tailored therapies based on the joint decision of the physician and the patient
title_fullStr Uterine fibroids — why you should choose tailored therapies based on the joint decision of the physician and the patient
title_full_unstemmed Uterine fibroids — why you should choose tailored therapies based on the joint decision of the physician and the patient
title_short Uterine fibroids — why you should choose tailored therapies based on the joint decision of the physician and the patient
title_sort uterine fibroids why you should choose tailored therapies based on the joint decision of the physician and the patient
topic uterine fibroid
leiomyoma
patient-tailored therapy
shared decision making
therapy
url https://journals.viamedica.pl/ginekologia_polska/article/view/107627
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