More than 600,000 American women get hysterectomies each year, but doctors say that many of the women may not need them.

There are several alternatives to relieve symptoms of fibroids and heavy bleeding, and one option is gaining a lot of popularity, reported WCAU-TV in Philadelphia.

Cynthia Ford-Davis has an identical twin who had a hysterectomy.

"I knew I didn't want to go that route because it was a long recovery period," Ford-Davis said.

These days, women who have excessive bleeding, fibroids or pain have a lot of less drastic options, doctors say.

Doctors say a hysterectomy is a great operation for a woman who really needs it. But before choosing a hysterectomy, every woman should know what options are available to solve her problems before she gives up her original organs.

Different types of endometrial ablation -- a procedure to destroy the lining of the uterus -- can stop bleeding.

A hysteroscopyshaves out fibroids.
Myomectomy surgically removes fibroids.
The ExAblate system heats and destroys fibroids.
Uterine artery embolization basically gives fibroids a heart attack and knocks them off.

"About 90 percent of women with abnormal bleeding will get relief of symptoms after embolization. About 80 percent of women with pressure symptoms will get relief of them after (embolization)," said Dr. Robert Worthington-Kirsch, who practices on Ridge Avenue in Philadelphia.

Worthington-Kirsch has performed more uterine artery embolizations than anyone in the world. He uses X-ray guidance to thread a catheter into the artery that supplies the uterus, then injects tiny plastic particles.

"They're a little bit bigger than the dot a pencil would make at the end of a sentence," Worthington-Kirsch said. "What those particles do is they block the blood vessels that supply the fibroids, so the fibroids don't get any blood, they don't get any oxygen, so the fibroids choke to death."

Ford-Davis' procedure took less than a half-hour. Afterward, she said she didn't hurt at all; she just felt numb.

Renee Garvin-Johnson, of Mount Airy, Pa., had the procedure a 18 months ago.

"I would recommend it. It's a viable alternative to major surgery and it did work for me," Garvin-Johnson said.

Embolization requires two weeks' recovery, compared to six to eight weeks for hysterectomy.

Additional Resources:

• Health Library: Gynecological Health
• MayoClinic.com: Hysterectomy: Benefits and alternatives
• FDA: ExAblate Information
• Glossary: Gynecological Health