In a boost for women’s health, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has recommended a new treatment for uterine fibroids (UFs), which impact around two-thirds (66%) of women.
The treatment is called linzagolix – sold as Yselty by Theramex – and is expected to benefit up to 30,000 people. Clinical trials have shown the drug is effective at reducing the bleeding caused by UFs, and in reducing them in size, compared to a placebo.
UFs are non-cancerous growths that develop in and around the uterus at reproductive age – of the women who will develop at least one UF in their lifetime, a third (33%) will develop symptoms, which can include very heavy and long menstrual periods or pelvic pressure and pain.
“If left untreated they [UFs] can lead to infertility and have a substantial effect on quality of life,” said NICE’s chief medical office and deputy CEO, Professor Jonathan Benger.
“Linzagolix offers greater flexibility as it can be taken either with or without hormone therapy and means clinicians can provide more personalised care in the treatment of this often debilitating condition.”
Dame Lesley Regan, England’s women’s health ambassador and obstetrics and gynaecology professor at Imperial College London, said: “No woman should have to suffer as a result of their menstrual health, and this latest decision by NICE is a necessary step in ensuring that women have greater access to treatment and care.
“If we want to close the gender health gap, we need to ensure that we are providing women access to a diverse range of treatments that work for them and their needs.”
Vice chair and creative director at Black Female Doctors UK, Dr Aziza Sesay, said: “We certainly need to ensure we keep advocating for accessible treatment for all women who are in need, especially the communities with higher prevalence of uterine fibroids such as Black women like myself.”
It is thought that Black women are two-to-three times more likely to develop UFs compared to white women. The treatment will now be available on the NHS for eligible women across England and Wales.
Image credit: iStock
