Is Uterine Fibroid Embolization Right for You?

v-flandersWriter: Dr. Vincent Flanders, Interventional Radiologist, Northwest Radiology Network

If you have symptoms related to uterine fibroids, Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) may be a possible treatment option worth exploring. UFE is a minimally invasive procedure that preserves the uterus and greatly reduces recovery time compared to surgical procedures.

UFE is performed by an interventional radiologist, a doctor who uses X-rays and other imaging techniques to see inside the body and treat conditions without surgery. During a UFE, you are given sedation medication to make you sleepy and comfortable. The radiologist inserts a thin tube into an artery at the top of your thigh, then uses X-ray imaging to guide the tube to the uterine artery. Tiny round particles called Embosphere® Microspheres are injected into the blood vessels that lead to the fibroids. They block blood flow, causing the fibroids to shrink. Embosphere® Microspheres remain permanently at the fibroid site. The process is repeated in your other uterine artery for complete blockage of blood flow to the fibroid.

Ideal patients for UFE include women who:

  • Have symptomatic fibroids
  • Do not intend to get pregnant in the future
  • Want to keep their uterus
  • Do not want surgery
  • Want an overnight or outpatient hospital stay
  • May not be good candidates for surgery

You should not have this procedure if you are pregnant or want to become pregnant. The effects of UFE on the ability to become pregnant and carry a fetus to term, and on the development of the fetus, have not been determined. 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 at Northwest Radiology who can help you make a decision based on your medical history and the size and location of your fibroids.

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