Unmet therapeutic needs for uterine myomas.

Uterine myomas may develop in many women, but only become clinically significant in about one third of the affected population. Although uterine myomas are most often benign, they are associated with debilitating symptoms and commonly result in hysterectomy. Current treatments for uterine myomas include pharmacologic therapies, delivery of focused energy, alteration of uterine vascular supply, or surgical procedures. Factors such as the woman's desire for future pregnancy, the importance of uterine preservation, symptom severity, and tumor characteristics direct the choice of therapeutic approach. The ideal treatment will have the following characteristics: easy to perform, minimally invasive, cost effective, preserves fertility, preserves the uterus, efficacious, acceptable tolerability and durability, and low incidence of myoma recurrence.