New, Incision-free Treatment Option for Uterine Fibroids Now Available at UP Health System – Portage

A new, advanced treatment for women with symptomatic uterine fibroids is now available at UP Health System – Portage (UPHS – Portage), offering patients relief while preserving their uterus. 

The Sonata Treatment®—a breakthrough alternative to traditional surgical procedures—uses a device that is inserted vaginally through the cervix and into the uterus, requiring no incisions. The miniature, high-resolution ultrasound tip allows the physician to see fibroids inside the uterus, delivering radiofrequency energy with precision that will shrink them over time and reduce or eliminate symptoms.

This process, called transcervical fibroid ablation, typically takes less than an hour to complete and is an outpatient procedure, meaning patients can return home the same day. General anesthesia is not required, and patients have reported minimal pain that is manageable with over-the-counter medications and the ability to resume normal activities shortly after treatment. Nearly every type of symptomatic fibroid can be treated using Sonata, which also has the capability of targeting multiple fibroids during the same procedure. UPHS – Portage is the first and only facility in the Upper Peninsula to utilize this technology to treat uterine fibroids. 

“ Technology is advancing at such a fast pace, providing more great options for women who are experiencing pelvic pain and seeking relief,” said Evon Schexnaydre, MD, who recently joined the Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) team at UPHS – Portage. “This technology is a great option for women with painful uterine fibroids and an important step forward in the field of gynecology.”

Uterine fibroids—benign growths in the wall of the uterus—are common in women of childbearing age. Research has shown that 70-80 percent of women will develop fibroids before the age of 50, with about half experiencing uncomfortable symptoms, which can include heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain and pressure, and even infertility. These symptoms, which can impact daily activities and overall well-being, can worsen if left untreated.

More than two million women in the U.S. undergo treatment for uterine fibroids each year. Traditional methods include hysterectomy, a significant surgical procedure that removes the entire uterus and requires a weeks-long recovery period; myomectomy, the surgical removal of fibroids usually done through incisions in the abdomen; and uterine artery embolization (UAE), which involves injecting small particles to block blood vessels around the uterus causing fibroids to die and shrink over time. Both hysterectomy and myomectomy, while effective and safe, require general anesthesia and present similar risks to other invasive surgeries. UAE, also generally safe and effective, can cause discomfort, earlier menopause and may change how the uterus and ovaries work.

“ In the past, some women saw invasive treatment options as a deterrent—they chose to live with the pain instead of undergoing surgery,” said Dr. Schexnaydre. “Hysterectomy is not the only answer. I’m excited to offer this incision-free option to women that has proven successful in the treatment of almost all types of symptomatic fibroids.”

The team at UPHS – Portage has worked diligently to bring the latest technology to women’s services and is proud to offer a treatment for fibroids that will likely significantly and positively impact the health of so many women in the area.

“ I’m incredibly proud of our facility’s commitment to providing the services our community needs and further establishing our foothold of patients staying close to home for their care,” said UPHS – Portage Chief Executive Officer Ryan Heinonen. “ Dr. Schexnaydre brings the latest clinical resources and leadership experience to our OB/GYN specialists, and we are thrilled she is paving the way in technology advancements that will continue to improve patient care.”

This new technology, developed by Gynesonics, has performed well in clinical trials. About 95 percent of patients reported reduced menstrual bleeding one year after treatment, and 94 percent required no surgical reintervention two years post-surgery. Additionally, 50 percent of patients were able to return to normal activity the day after treatment.

Dr. Schexnaydre has experience working with this device at a previous role in Wisconsin and said it’s been very positively received by patients. She’s excited to extend this option to women in the Copper Country.

" Patients who qualify as good candidates and are looking for a uterine preserving procedure with quicker recovery have been very enthusiastic that we have this option for them now locally,” she said, adding that other new and exciting surgical options will also be available soon to her patients.

Dr. Schexnaydre earned her Doctor of Medicine from Louisiana State University School of Medicine before completing her OB/GYN residency and internship at Tulane University Medical School, both in New Orleans. She is a fellow of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

To learn more about Dr. Schexnaydre or other women’s health services at UP Health System – Portage, visit UPHealthSystem.com/womens-health.