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Members of Congress Discuss Uterine Fibroid Education Bill, New Minimally Invasive Uterine Fibroid Treatment Options, Fertility Preservation and Infertility Prevention With Leading Doctors at ACOG Meeting

Posted on: Tuesday, 9 May 2006, 09:03 CDT

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading obstetricians/gynecologists, researchers and members of Congress will discuss the latest non-surgical methods for treating uterine fibroids, painful, non-cancerous tumors that affect one-fourth of American women of childbearing age. The Society for Prevention of Human Infertility (SPHI), a special interest group representing the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), is hosting the educational reception to discuss "Fertility Preservation, Uterine Fibroids, Non-Invasive Treatments and Fertility Issues" at ACOG's Annual Meeting taking place May 6 to 10 in Washington, D.C.

When: Tuesday, May 9, 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. Where: Washington Convention Center, Room 206 Who: Open to all ACOG registrants Speakers include: - Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-11th District, Ohio) - Congressman Frank Pallone (D-6th District, New Jersey)

- Elizabeth A. Stewart, MD, FACOG, Clinical Director, Center for Uterine Fibroids at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston

- Phyllis J. Gee, MD, FACOG, A private-practice OB/GYN based in Plano, Texas

- Gary Jeng, PhD, Centers for Disease Control Scientist

- Edwin Ramirez, MD, Junior Fellow, Texas A&M University, Prairie View, Texas

- Masood A. Khatamee, MD, FACOG, SPHI founder, will moderate the session

"Although up to 30% of all reproductive age women suffer from uterine fibroids, relatively little is known about what causes uterine fibroids and how to prevent them or reduce their occurrence," said Representative Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D- OH). "Most existing treatment options are relative drastic, involving surgery and lengthy recovery time, placing an unfair burden on women. The development of innovative, minimally invasive and non-invasive treatment options need to be encouraged. Right now, hysterectomy is the most common treatment for uterine fibroids, accounting for 200,000 (or 30%) of annual hysterectomies performed in the United States. "Women deserve better, less invasive options that will help them get back on their feet more quickly."

Rep. Tubbs Jones and Sen. Barbara Mikulski are sponsoring a bill in the House and Senate entitled the Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act of 2005 to provide federal funding for research and public education for uterine fibroids.

"Women with uterine fibroids no longer have to endure painful surgeries and the long recovery times and expense associated with them," said Elizabeth A Stewart, MD of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. "However, insurers have been slow to reimburse for newer procedures, giving only a select group of women access to non-invasive treatment. As an OB/GYN, I look forward to starting a dialogue in Washington about bringing these newer options to fibroid sufferers."

The most common treatments for uterine fibroids include hysterectomy, the full surgical removal of the uterus, and myomectomy, surgical removal of the tumor, both of which require hospital stays and long recovery times. A non-invasive incisionless procedure known as Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) which is performed as an outpatient procedure has been available since 2004.

About The Society for the Prevention of Human Infertility (SPHI)

The SPHI is a special interest group included in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologist (ACOG) and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). SPHI has also been recognized by Center for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), and Surgeon General of the United States.

The Society for the Prevention of Human Infertility (SPHI)

Tel: +1-212-288-3737

The Society for Prevention of Human Infertility (SPHI)

CONTACT: The Society for the Prevention of Human Infertility (SPHI),Tel: +1-212-288-3737

Source: PRNewswire

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