Uterine Fibroid Embolization
If you’ve been diagnosed with uterine fibroids, you want relief with as little disruption to your daily life as possible. Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a minimally invasive alternative to surgery and will allow you to get back to normal as quickly as possible.
About Uterine Fibroid Embolization
Symptoms
Symptoms of fibroids in the uterus include:
- Menorrhagia or abnormally heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding
- Anemia
- Pelvic pain or pressure
- Enlarged belly
- Urinary frequency or obstruction
- Constipation
- Painful intercourse
- Infertility or obstetric complications
Diagnosis
Fibroids are the most common female pelvic tumor and are diagnosed based on symptoms, a pelvic exam, and imaging with pelvic ultrasound or MRI.
Procedure
Uterine fibroid embolization treats the problem through a pin-hole in the skin. A small catheter is placed into a small artery in the upper leg or wrist through a tiny incision. Through this small catheter, tiny round beads are injected into the arteries that supply the uterus and fibroids under x-ray guidance. These small beads stop the blood flow to the fibroids, causing the cells of the fibroids to die and the fibroids to decrease in size.
Recovery
Locations
You can have this procedure at any of our three interventional radiology locations.
Patients are usually discharged home the same day with medications for pain control. Rarely, patients may need to stay overnight in the hospital for observation. Patients usually resume their normal activities after a few days.