UTERINE FIBROID EMBOLIZATION

An alternative to hysterectomy

If you or someone you love suffers from uterine fibroids, we can help. Fibroids can cause pelvic pain, excessive bleeding, bloating, and trouble urinating. The prescribed treatment is often hysterectomy. At VIE, we provide truly integrated care and minimally invasive procedures to treat the fibroids while leaving the uterus intact.

Definition

What causes uterine fibroids?

Fibroids are benign, non-cancerous growths within or on the muscular walls of the uterus. Some may be as small as a pea, while others can be as large as a cantaloupe. Research has shown that 70% of white women and 84% of black women will develop uterine fibroids by the time they are 49 years old. Fortunately, there are non-surgical uterine fibroid treatments that can help.

Risk Factors

What are some of the risk factors for developing fibroids?

Obesity
High blood pressure
Vitamin D deficiency
Race (especially prevalent in Black women)
Nulliparity (have never carried a pregnancy beyond 20 weeks)
Family history of fibroids

Symptoms

What are some of the symptoms?

Some women may have no symptoms. For others, the physical effects can be debilitating, including:

Heavy menstrual bleeding or painful periods
Longer or more frequent periods
Pelvic pressure or pain
Frequent urination or trouble urinating
Bloating

Treatment and Benefits

There are a wide variety of uterine fibroid treatments, including:

Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE)
Medication
Myomectomy
Hysterectomy
Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound ablation (MRgFUS)
Laparoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation

How are uterine fibroids treated?

VIE provides advanced UFE treatments for fibroids. A diagnosis of uterine fibroids can be confirmed using ultrasound screening and an MRI scan. Once confirmed, a catheter is inserted into an artery through a tiny pinhole via the groin or wrist, then guided via real-time X-ray to the specific artery supplying blood to the fibroids. Particles are injected through the catheter, blocking the blood supply to the fibroids and making them shrink. The catheter is removed once the embolization (particle injection) is complete, and a device is used to seal the hole in the artery.

What are the benefits of uterine fibroid embolization?

Keep your uterus
Non-surgical treatment
Intravenous sedation – no general anesthesia
Fast recovery – most women are back to regular activity in 1-2 weeks
Leave with just an adhesive bandage
Menstrual flow returns to normal
Pelvic pain and pressure are relieved
Urinary frequency decreases
Significant reduction in the size of the fibroids

Am I a candidate for uterine fibroid embolization?

If your doctor says you need an operation on your uterus, there’s another choice called UFE. UFE is especially good if you want to:

Keep your uterus: UFE doesn’t remove your uterus like some other surgeries.
Retain the option to have children: UFE preserves your uterus and can improve your chances of getting pregnant.
Avoid early menopause: Some surgeries can make menopause start sooner, but UFE usually doesn’t.
Fewer problems: UFE is a minimally invasive procedure, so it’s easier on your body than a big operation.

Ask your doctor if UFE is right for you.

Average Recovery Time

Since UFE is a minimally invasive uterine fibroid treatment, patients experience a shorter recovery time than with surgery. UFE requires only a tiny incision and intravenous sedation, so no general anesthesia is needed. Patients leave our outpatient facility the same day and can resume regular activity in as little as one week.

What to Expect

Our team will assess your condition during your consultation and determine if UFE is right for you. We will schedule your procedure and provide detailed instructions if you are eligible. On the day of treatment, you will receive intravenous sedation and local anesthesia. The procedure typically takes 1-2 hours, and you will be monitored before discharge. Our team will provide personalized post-procedure care instructions and follow-up to ensure your optimal recovery and results.

At VIE, we are dedicated to providing the most advanced, minimally invasive treatments for uterine fibroids. Contact us today to learn how uterine fibroid embolization can help you reclaim your quality of life.

REFERENCES

Silberzweig, J. E., Powell, D. K., Matsumoto, A. H., & Spies, J. B. (2016). Management of Uterine Fibroids: A Focus on Uterine-sparing Interventional Techniques. Radiology, 280(3), 675–692.https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2016141693
Gupta, J. K., Sinha, A., Lumsden, M. A., & Hickey, M. (2014). Uterine artery embolization for symptomatic uterine fibroids. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2014(12), CD005073.https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD005073.pub4
de Bruijn, A. M., Ankum, W. M., Reekers, J. A., Birnie, E., van der Kooij, S. M., Volkers, N. A., & Hehenkamp, W. J. (2016). Uterine artery embolization vs hysterectomy in the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids: 10-year outcomes from the randomized EMMY trial. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 215(6), 745.e1–745.e12.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2016.06.051