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Women's Health

An emergency contraceptive pill helps treat fibroids

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Every year, hundreds of thousands of women in the United States are treated for fibroids — noncancerous growths in the uterine wall. Fibroids don't always cause problems, but when they do, the most common complaint is heavy menstrual bleeding, often accompanied by iron-deficiency anemia.  Medications called gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists can help shrink fibroids. However, their use is limited by side effects such as bone loss, hot flashes, and depression. Now, researchers have found that an oral drug with fewer side effects is highly effective in shrinking fibroids and reducing bleeding.

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