Uterine Fibroid Embolization: The latest and advanced non-surgical treatment for uterine fibroids

Not all Fibroids need treatment and Surgery is not the only option. Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE/UAE) offers similar results with less complications. Most importantly women experience immediate symptomatic relief and can resume their work the very next day. No scars, No cuts, No bleeding and no hospitalisation required.

Uterine fibroids are one of the most common benign (non-cancerous) tissue growth within the uterine muscles. While they are not harmful in most of the women, some may experience a wide range of symptoms.

While fibroids are not harmful in most of the women, some may experience a wide range of symptoms

What are the common symptoms of uterine fibroids?

• Heavy, prolonged menstrual bleeding, sometimes with clots

• Anaemia - a low red blood cell count causing severe weakness

• Pelvic pain, pressure or heaviness

• Bladder pressure leading to a frequent and hurried urination

• Back and leg pain

• Pain during sexual intercourse

• Constipation and bloating

• Infertility caused by the pressure effects of fibroid on the womb cavity.

When should one get treated for fibroids?

Most of the women in their reproductive age group (18-50)tend to have uterine fibroids of varying sizes. Some fibroids keep growing in size with progressing age and few donot increase significantly in size.

Only those women who experience any of the symptoms due to fibroids should consider getting treated.

Surgeries like hysterectomy, myomectomy etc is not the only option.

What is Uterine fibroid embolization?

Uterine fibroids are none other than extra muscle and fibrous tissues growing within the muscles of uterus. They feed from the blood supply of normal uterus. UFE/UAE aims to block the blood supply to the fibroids, leading to decrease in the size of fibroids and eventually shrink to a size which no longer can cause any symptoms.

During the procedure, a thin tube (catheter) is introduced through the patients' groin area or through the wrist area and is navigated till the uterine artery inside your body using image guidance (x-ray). When the location of the catheter is confirmed, a smaller microcatheter is sent further into the branches of uterine artery supplying the fibroids. Small micro-spherical blood flow- blocking agents are injected through the microcatheter. This stops the blood flow to the fibroids and they eventually shrink down in size.

What are the advantages of UFE over surgery?

• It’s a non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment option for uterine fibroids

• Your uterus remains preserved. Pregnancies are unaffected.

• Lower complication rate with reductions in pain and blood loss

• Reduced recovery time so most patients return home the same day and return to normal activities within one week

What are the Complications and side-effects of UFE over surgery?

The rate of complications are extremely low with UFE compared to the complications with surgery. However there are certain things to be kept in mind.

• With any embolization, patients may experience something called "Post-Embolization Syndrome."

• After the procedure, some women may experience mild stomach pain, mild fever and sense of vomiting (nausea).

• Very rarely, few women can have deep pelvic pain - in such cases patients will be managed with strong pain medication which reduces the pain.

• Uterine fibroid embolization should not be performed when the women are pregnant.

• UFE is not indicated in patients with cancer of uterus and cervix.