INTRODUCTION: Uterine fibroids (UF) are benign tumors common in premenopausal 
women, with strong impact on the health-care systems. For many years, surgery 
represented the only therapy for symptomatic fibroids. However, clinicians are 
observing a switch from surgery to noninvasive methods; in particular, medical 
treatment has been shown to be efficacious in obtaining a bleeding reduction and 
in ameliorating patient conditions.
AREAS COVERED: The authors review the current options available for the 
treatment of women with UF, with a special focus on the newest one, relugolix. 
It is an orally active non-peptide Gonadotropin-releasing hormone 
(GnRH)-receptor antagonist recently licensed for women with symptomatic 
fibroids. Relugolix is a well-tolerated safe drug; it is effective in inducing a 
dose-dependent decrease in menstrual blood loss, with faster reduction of heavy 
menstrual bleeding (HMB) and a greater shrinkage in fibroid volume compared to 
the current standard of GnRH agonist treatment.
EXPERT OPINION: Relugolix is a promising drug for the non-surgical treatment of 
women with UF. To date, the only published data come from a well-selected 
Japanese female population study while results from worldwide ongoing studies 
are ongoing in order to confirm the efficacy of this GnRH agonist receptor.