NEW YORK (CNN) -- It's been a year since the parents of a severely disabled child made public their decision to submit their daughter to a hysterectomy, breast surgery and drugs to keep the girl forever small. Today, the couple tell CNN, they believe they made the right decision -- one that could have a profound impact on the care of disabled children worldwide.

"The 'Ashley treatment' has been successful in every expected way," Ashley's parents told CNN exclusively in a lengthy e-mail interview. "It has potential to help many others like it helped our precious daughter."

By Serena Gordon
EmpowHer's HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 27 (HealthDay News) -- Women with fibroids face a myriad of choices for treatment, each with its own benefits and drawbacks, which can make it difficult to choose the right procedure.

Now, a new study helps define the choice between at least two options -- uterine artery embolization (UAE) and hysterectomy. After two years of follow-up, the study, published in the March issue of Radiology, found that women who had UAE reported an equal quality of life compared to women who'd had a hysterectomy.

One in three women in the U.S. will have had a hysterectomy before age 60. Tell us about your experiences and become a resource for other women.

Although there are less expensive alternatives, the number of hysterectomies performed in the United States has remained at about 600,000 per year over the past 25 years, says a report released Monday by the not-for-profit National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC).