Fibroid Embolization

Fibroids are very common benign tumors of the uterus. "Uterine fibroid", "myoma", and "leiomyoma" are additional terms you may have heard which also refer to these growths within the uterus. Most often, fibroids do not cause any symptoms and therefore do not require any treatment at all. Occasionally, however, they can cause symptoms which have a significant impact on women's lives.

Symptoms

Fibroids can cause heavy and/or irregular periods. Pain or a sensation of pressure in the pelvic area or the lower back can also be caused by fibroids. Symptoms of constipation or frequent urination can also be an indication that you may have uterine fibroids. It's important to note, however, that these symptoms do not necessarily mean that you have fibroids as other conditions can also produce identical symptoms.

Diagnosis

How do you find out if you have fibroids? Your primary care doctor or your gynecologist may have ordered a pelvic ultrasound or sonogram to evaluate your uterus. A sonogram can diagnose or at least suggest the possibility of uterine fibroids. This is sometimes followed by a pelvic MRI to clarify findings on an ultrasound and to plan possible treatment. If you have not yet had an MRI one of our physicians can order this test for you.

Treatment Options

The symptoms produced by fibroids can sometimes be treated with medication. Pain or discomfort can be treated with NSAID's such as ibuprofen. Symptoms of irregular bleeding can be treated with oral contraceptives.

Traditionally, women who had significant symptoms despite treatment with medications often went on to surgery. The two surgical options are hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) and myomectomy (cutting out the fibroid). Many women have been resistant to the surgical approach, often with good reason. Surgery of this type can keep someone in the hospital for several days and can require a recovery period of up to 6 weeks. Surgery also caries risks such as serious infections and, rarely, death. A new alternative to surgery known as uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) or uterine artery embolization (UAE) is now available to women in the Hudson Valley region.

Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is a procedure used to block the arteries which provide oxygen and nutrients to the fibroids. This causes them to shrink over time. The doctors at Valley Endovascular perform this procedure by placing a catheter (a thin tube about the size of a piece of spaghetti) into the arteries which supply the fibroids through a small nick in the skin in the upper thigh area. Fluoroscopy, a continuous type of x-ray, is used to help guide placement of the catheter. X-ray dye (contrast) is injected through the catheter to allow us to see the arteries leading to the fibroids. Tiny particles made of a type of plastic (PVA) are then injected through the catheter to clog up the arteries and starve the fibroids.

Patients can usually go home on the day of the procedure and the recovery period is only about a week. Patients are sent home with pain medications to help with the crampy pain which is common after this procedure. Studies have shown that 78-94% of women experience complete or substantial relief of symptoms after UFE. And, compared to surgery, UFE has a low risk of complications such as infection or serious bleeding.