What are uterine fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop within the muscular wall of the uterus. They are a common issue, affecting many women during their reproductive years. Fibroids can cause a variety of symptoms including:
- Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding
- Blood clots
- Pelvic pain or pressure
- Frequent urination
- Constipation
- Abdominal distention/bloating
- Fatigue
- Anemia due to heavy bleeding
- Back pain or leg pain
Established Risk Factors
- Age: Fibroids are most common in women in their 30s and 40s, and the risk increases with age during the reproductive years. They tend to shrink after menopause.
- Race: African American women are at a significantly higher risk of developing fibroids. They may develop them earlier, and the fibroids tend to be larger and more symptomatic.
- Family History: If your mother, sister, or other close relatives have had fibroids, your risk is increased.
- Obesity: Women with a high body mass index (BMI) are more likely to develop fibroids.
- Early Onset of Menstruation: Starting your period at a young age may be associated with an increased risk.
Potential Risk Factors (Research is Ongoing)
- Diet: Diets high in red meat and low in green vegetables and fruits may be linked to fibroid development.
- High Blood Pressure: There may be a connection between hypertension and fibroids.
- Vitamin D Deficiency: Some studies suggest low vitamin D levels may contribute to fibroid growth.
Important Note: It’s essential to remember that having risk factors doesn’t guarantee you’ll develop fibroids. Also, many women with fibroids don’t experience any symptoms and may not even know they have them.
Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is an FDA-Approved, minimally-invasive procedure that can shrink and kill fibroid tissue and alleviate their associated symptoms. This outpatient procedure has been performed for more than 30 years and offers several advantages over traditional surgical options like hysterectomy, including:
- Non-Surgical
- Highly effective
- No incisions required
- 24-28 hour at home recovery
- No hospitalizations
- In-Office procedure
- Preservation of the uterus
- A specialist called a Vascular & Interventional Radiologist makes a tiny skin nick in the groin and inserts a thin, flexible tube (catheter) into the blood vessel.
- Using live X-ray imaging, the physician carefully guides the catheter to the blood vessels that feed the fibroids.
- Tiny particles are injected through the catheter that block the blood supply to the fibroids, causing them to shrink and die over time.
UFE may be an excellent option for women who:
- Have symptomatic fibroids
- Want to avoid surgery and keep their uterus
- Don’t want to undergo a long painful recovery
- The procedure takes place in our office in our Vascular Suite, which is similar to an operating room.
- The procedure takes approximately 60 minutes and is not painful.
- You are given intravenous medications to help you relax and calm your nerves prior to the procedure
- You are alert and breathing on your own during the procedure, but some women sleep during the procedure.
- The procedure is not painful at all. The only discomfort for the entire treatment is numbing the skin with a small needle before we gain access to the blood vessel. This feels like a pinch and a burn for a few seconds
- You will not feel the catheter moving through the blood vessels
- Once the left Uterine Artery is located, the particles are then injected and the same process is repeated on the opposite side.
- You can stand and walk within 1-4 hours after the procedure depending on the type of closure device used to seal the blood vessel. Most patients are discharged within 1 hour from the time the procedure is completed.
- You will be given pain medications intravenously before you leave and given a Rx for pain medications and anti-nausea medications to take at home
- For 6-12 hours after the procedure, you can expect to feel cramping like a heavy period cycle for 3-5 minutes at a time with 60-90 minutes intervals between cramps.
- Most women are back to normal activities after 48 hours, but it is common to feel some fatigue and abdominal bloating for 3-5 days.
- Improvement in the severity of your menstrual bleeding and pain will be noticeable by the following menstrual cycle.
Interested in Learning More?
UFE is a safe and effective treatment for uterine fibroids, an alternative to hysterectomy and other surgical interventions. If you’re considering UFE, schedule a consultation at ARV Centers to discuss if this procedure is right for you.
