UTERINE FIBROID EMBOLIZATION, AN ALTERNATIVE TO HYSTERECTOMY
Fibroids are benign, non-cancerous growths in or on the walls of the uterus, or womb. Most fibroids cause no symptoms, and are only discovered when a woman has a routine pelvic exam. If you do experience symptoms, they may include:
- Heavy, prolonged monthly periods, sometimes with clots
- An enlarged belly
- Anemia
- Pain or pressure between hip bones or in the back of legs
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Frequent need to urinate
- Constipation or bloating
If you suspect that you have fibroids, your doctor may order an ultrasound or other imaging tests to be certain. Many women with fibroids experience no symptoms and no treatment is necessary.However, if you are having symptoms, depending on their severity you have several options.
Birth control pills and hormone treatments can help but may have side effects and symptoms may return when treatment stops. Surgical treatments such as a hysterectomy or a myomectomy require anesthesia and a lengthy recovery time. A new treatment called UFE, Uterine Fibroid Embolization is now available. UFE is a minimally invasive option that preserves the uterus and greatly reduces recovery times compared to surgical procedures.
If you need treatment for fibroid symptoms but want to avoid surgery, UFE may be right for you. Your gynecologist can provide a referral to an interventional radiologist who can help you decide if this procedure can help you. Dr. Duncan Belcher, and interventional radiologist with DRA, has trained at Yale New Haven Hospital for this procedure. For more information about UFE go to http://www.sirweb.org/patients/uterine-fibroids/