Noninvasive Fibroid Procedure: UFE
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT UTERINE FIBROID EMBOLIZATIONS
Surgery is not the only option to treat your fibroids. Before you decide on a treatment, be sure to ask your doctor about Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE). This nonsurgical, outpatient procedure has successfully treated 30,000 women in the US.
Once you and your doctors(s) have determined that Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is the right fibroid treatment option for you, here are some of the things you’ll need to know before, during and after treatment.
UFE is a nonsurgical, minimally invasive treatment performed by an Interventional Radiologist that shrinks the fibroids to provide relief. UFE is 98.5% effective in treating symptoms caused by fibroids. The Interventional Radiologists at Interventional Physicians of Indiana (IPI) perform this procedure at Community Hospitals North and East.
Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE), also known as uterine artery embolization (UAE), is a minimally invasive procedure that is performed by an Interventional Radiologist, a medical doctor with extensive experience in radiology. During this procedure, the doctor cuts off the blood supply by using embolic material (small spheres) as blockage depriving the fibroid of the blood and oxygen it needs to grow that causes them to shrink; this eases the pain and other symptoms. Such treatment usually takes 1 to 2 hours and requires an overnight stay in the hospital. The procedure does not require general anesthesia, and recovery time is significantly reduced compared to surgical alternative. Currently, this kind of treatment is FDA approved for women with symptomatic uterine fibroids who have no desire to get pregnant in the future.
Following UFE, patients typically can return to normal activities in approximately 7 to 10 days. The treated fibroids shrink approximately 50%-60% over the course of a year. Patients who present mainly with symptoms of abnormal uterine bleeding notice improvement within a few days. Other patients notice improvement within a few weeks.
Modern technologies and a professional doctor’s consultation will help you choose a treatment method that is just for you. Allowing you to feel happier and in more control of your Fibroid Treatment.
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ABOUT FIBROIDS
What are fibroids? Fibroids are noncancerous growths of muscle fibers inside the uterus, which can range from a quarter-inch (like a walnut) to the size of a cantaloupe. The cause of fibroid tumors is still unknown, but experts believe that estrogen stimulates their growth.
Uterine fibroids are common among women of childbearing age. Nearly 40% of women develop fibroid growths and often don’t have any symptoms. Usually, fibroids are harmless, but they can press painfully on other organs causing frequent urination, pelvic soreness and excessive menstrual bleeding.
