A Pearl for Uterine Fibroids

Why was this study done? Few studies have explored the utility of medical interventions in the management of uterine fibriods. A 2011 report by the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality [1] concluded that the literature examining the effectiveness of treatment strategies was scanty. Gonadotropinreleasing hormone (GnRH) analogues, such as leuprolide acetate, have shown promise in the suppression of uterine fibroids and in minimizing bleeding prior to surgery. A few small and uncontrolled studies [2] involving a class of drugs called selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRM) have shown some effectiveness in medical management of uterine fibroids by reduction in uterine and fibroid size as well as by induction of amenorrhea prior to planned surgery. The present study was conducted to determine whether daily oral ulipristal acetate (5 mg or 10 mg) was noninferior to a monthly intramuscular injection of leuprolide acetate (3.75 mg) in controlling bleeding as well as in its side-effect profile prior to a planned surgery.