Treatment for: Uterine Fibroids
Procedures offered: Uterine Fibroid Embolization
Uterine Fibroid Embolization
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that grow inside or around the uterus. They range in size from just under 2 inches to four inches and even larger. Up to 40% of women over the age of 35 will develop fibroids. African-American women may be up to 3 times as likely to develop them.
Fibroids can cause extreme pain, longer-than-normal and heavier-than-normal periods, frequent urination and incontinence. In many cases, hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) or myomectomy (surgical removal of the fibroids from the uterus) may be recommended for women with fibroids, however the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology now recommends uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) as a non-surgical alternative to hysterectomy.
UFE is a safe, proven and minimally-invasive treatment for uterine fibroids. Unlike hysterectomy, the procedure preserves the uterus, and unlike myomectomy, the fibroids will not return.
During the UFE procedure, a specially trained interventional radiologist uses imaging to guide a small catheter through the body to the blood vessel (artery) supplying the fibroid. The artery is blocked with tiny microspheres, which lodge in the smaller vessels and deprive the fibroid of oxygenated blood. This causes the fibroids to shrink and reduces the associated symptoms.
UFE is performed in less than an hour, requires only a small nick in the skin, and you can return home within 24 hours. Women who undergo UFE have demonstrated a high level of satisfaction and a significant improvement in their quality of life, even over the long term.1,2 In a recent study of four randomized clinical trials comparing UFE to surgical interventions, UFE was associated with less blood loss, a shorter hospital stay and a faster return to work. 3
- Smith WJ, Upton E, Shuster EJ, Klein AJ, Schwartz ML. Patient satisfaction and disease specific quality of life after uterine artery embolization. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2004;190(6):1697–1703.
- Scheurig-Muenkler C, Koesters C, Powerski MJ, Grieser C, Froeling V, Kroencke TJ. Clinical long-term outcome after uterine artery embolization: sustained symptom control and improvement of quality of life. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2013;24(6):765–771
- Laughlin SK, Schroeder JC, Baird DD. New directions in the epidemiology of uterine fibroids. Semin Reprod Med. 2010;28(3):204–217
UFE Preparation Instructions
- Please inform us of all medications that you are taking, including herbal supplements, and if you have any allergies, especially to local anesthetic, medications or to contrast (also known as “x-ray dye”).
- You may be advised to stop taking aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Tylenol, Advil) or a blood thinning medication for a period of time before your procedure.
- Please inform us about recent illnesses or other medical conditions.
- Women who are or may be pregnant should inform us immediately. Many imaging tests such as x-ray are not performed during pregnancy so as not to expose the fetus to radiation.
- Unless otherwise instructed, you may take your usual medications, especially blood pressure medications. These may be taken with some water in the morning before your procedure.
- You may be instructed to refrain from eating or drinking anything for several hours before your procedure.
- You may need to remain for a period of observation after your procedure.
- You will be given a gown to change into before your procedure.