For the 20 to 80 percent of women who will develop uterine fibroids by the time they’re 50, this painful condition can have negative impacts on quality of life. Despite how common this condition is, treatment options for uterine fibroids are limited, and the most common one, a hysterectomy, involves a drastic life change.
Thankfully, a new, less invasive treatment option —Acessa— is now available for patients at Avant Gynecology!
What Is Acessa?
Acessa is a minimally invasive procedure that uses Laparoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation (Lap-RFA) to treat uterine fibroids. The Lap-RFA generates heat that changes the fibroids from hard to soft, reducing the painful symptoms associated with uterine fibroids. This treatment completely avoids any healthy surrounding tissue in the uterus.
How Does Acessa Work?
While this treatment option does require surgery, it is minimally invasive. Here’s the process from start to finish:
- Two small incisions are made on the belly button, in addition to one below the bikini line. Through these incisions, a tiny camera is inserted as well as an ultrasound.
- Each fibroid is then located using the above technology.
- The tip of Acessa is put into the fibroid, avoiding healthy uterine tissue.
- Controlled heat is applied through Acessa that destroys the fibroid tissue.
- The process is repeated until every fibroid is treated.
How Quickly Do Results Begin?
For most women, it takes anywhere from three to 12 weeks for symptoms to begin to ease. This is determined by the size of the fibroids and the symptoms the patient was experiencing before treatment.
What Are the Risks?
Just like with any medical procedure, there are potential risks to Acessa. We recommend speaking with your doctor to assess the pros and cons of undergoing this procedure. Click here to learn more.
If you have further questions about Acessa or other treatment options for uterine fibroids, reach out to the experts at Avant Gynecology by clicking here or by giving us a call at 404-352-2850.