Freedom from Fibroids: How a Non-invasive Treatment at Hackensack Meridian Health is Helping Women

For more than two years, Kristin Larew’s life was planned around a condition she couldn’t control. The 45-year-old mother of two from northern New Jersey suffered from uterine fibroids that caused a "real quality of life problem," marked by debilitating symptoms and unpredictability. "I spend a lot of my weekends at various sports games," Larew shared. "Going from the soccer field to the baseball field... was very difficult. The unpredictability of it always made me feel limited in what I could do."

Her journey for a solution was filled with frustration. After seeing multiple doctors who couldn't provide a definitive answer, she finally received a diagnosis but found the treatment options lacking. It wasn't until she conducted her own independent research that she discovered the Sonata® treatment, a minimally invasive procedure being offered at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center (JSUMC).

Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumors in women, with estimates showing that up to 80% of women will develop them by the time they reach age 50. While not cancerous, their symptoms – which can include prolonged or heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, and pressure – can severely impact a woman's life.

Larew found her answer with Jocelyn Carlo, M.D., FACOG, director of gynecology at JSUMC. Dr. Carlo confirmed that Larew was an ideal candidate for the Sonata treatment, an incisionless procedure that uses radiofrequency energy to target and shrink fibroids from inside the uterus.

With a busy family life and career (she is a corporate team member at Hackensack Meridian Health), Larew noted the convenience of the outpatient approach. “It's extremely fast and non-invasive," she said of her experience in early 2026. "I had no pain afterwards... I was home by dinner time. It's really cool technology."

The Sonata system allows the physician to locate the fibroid with ultrasound and deliver targeted heat to destroy the fibroid tissue without any incisions. For Larew, the results were transformative. "My symptoms decreased dramatically and my lifestyle has been reclaimed. I don't have to overthink the soccer field anymore," she said. "The freedom I have gained has been truly amazing and my quality of life improved so much."

Carlo, who has seen great success with the procedure, is thrilled to offer this option to more patients. "As a department, we have had great results and patients are extremely satisfied with their experience," said Carlo. "Kristin’s story is a powerful testament to why we are so focused on bringing the latest, most effective, and least invasive treatments to our community. Our commitment to the Women’s Health Initiative at HMH is about empowering women with options like Sonata, ensuring they receive personalized care that fits their lives and allows them to thrive."

For the millions of women who suffer from fibroids, many in silence, Larew’s story is one of hope and empowerment. Her journey highlights the importance of patient advocacy and the availability of advanced medical technologies that can restore quality of life without the need for major surgery.

"I am so incredibly grateful to Dr. Carlo and her team," Larew concluded. "By using the incisionless Sonata technology to treat my fibroid, she gave me back my freedom and active lifestyle without the need for a major surgery."

In a gesture of her immense gratitude, Larew made a donation to the JSUMC Foundation to honor Carlo. Donations like these directly support the expansion of Women’s Health initiatives at HMH, enabling Carlo and her team to provide life-changing, incisionless technology like the Sonata system to patients in need. Philanthropy greatly contributes to the hospital and the network's ability to provide the highest level of care using the most sophisticated systems. 

For more information, visit HackensackMeridianHealth.org/WomensHealth. To learn how you can support innovative patient care – including women's health programs – at HMH, please visit GiveHMH.org