Uterine Fibroid Embolization a Nonsurgical Option
The report describes how UFE works but the Harris Poll showed that 60% of women who have heard of UFE did not hear about it first from a healthcare provider.
“UFE is a nonsurgical treatment, performed by interventional radiologists, that has been proven to significantly reduce heavy menstrual bleeding, relieve uterine pain, and improve energy levels,” the authors write. “Through a tiny incision in the wrist or thigh, a catheter is guided via imaging to the vessels leading to the fibroids. Through this catheter, small clear particles are injected to block the blood flow leading to the fibroids causing them to shrink and disappear.”
After UFE, most women leave the hospital the day of or the day after treatment, according to the report authors, who add that many patients also report they can resume normal activity in about 2 weeks, more quickly than with surgical treatments.
In some cases, watchful waiting will be the best option, the report notes, and that may require repeated checkups and scans.
Dr. Lipman is an adviser on The Fibroid Fix report.