Hello, my name is Dr. Carrubba and I'm one of the minimally invasive gynecologic surgeons at Mayo Clinic Florida. I see many patients with uterine fibroids and I would like to spend a few minutes reviewing some of the newer surgical treatment options, specifically fibroid radiofrequency ablation. There are currently two FDA approved products, Accessa and Sonata. Accessa is a laparoscopic assisted device that uses an ultrasound probe to identify fibroids. Then a metallic device is inserted into individual fibroids, which are directly heated with radiofrequency waves to induce coagulative necrosis. The fibroids shrink over time and reduce bleeding as well as bulk symptoms. Some surgeons perform this technique concurrently with a minimally invasive myomectomy to reach deeper fibroids that may be more difficult to remove. Recovery time is similar to myomectomy. The Sonata procedure is a transcervical radiofrequency ablation that utilizes an ultrasound probe inside the uterus to identify fibroids. It can be performed in the office or in the operating room. Once the fibroids are identified, they are heated with radiofrequency waves using a similar metallic device. There are safety measures used with both the Accessa and Sonata technologies to minimize risk of thermal injury to surrounding structures like the bowel and bladder. The Sonata procedure has excellent recovery as there are no abdominal incisions. And the fibroids tend to shrink by up to 50 percent over the following three months. It is important to note that neither Accessa nor Sonata are indicated for use in patients desiring pregnancy due to lack of data. However, several women have had successful pregnancies after treatment. At Mayo Clinic, the Accessa procedure is currently offered at the Rochester Campus and the Sonata procedure is offered in both Rochester and Florida. It is important to discuss the best surgical intervention with your doctor as this may vary based on your age, fertility goals, size and location of fibroids, and medical co-morbidities. If you are interested in discussing treatment options, please contact Mayo Clinic to schedule a consultation with our gynecology providers.