Free From Discomfort
It's not an uncommon story: A 40-something woman is advised by her gynecologist to have a hysterectomy to treat her uterine fibroids. For many women, this approach seems extreme. Fortunately, less-invasive treatment options exist. Uterine fibroid embolization-or UFE-is a nonsurgical procedure performed by an interventional radiologist that effectively relieves symptoms by shrinking the fibroids.
Common, Treatable Condition
Uterine fibroids are very common, noncancerous tumors that grow within the wall of the uterus. They can be very small or as large as a grapefruit, and they tend to grow in women of childbearing age. Not all women with fibroids have symptoms. But for some, fibroids can cause heavy bleeding or painful periods, pelvic pain, bloating and frequent urination.
Alan Matsumoto, M.D., an interventional radiologist at the University of Virginia Health System, explains that for many years hysterectomy (the surgical removal of the uterus) has been the common course of treatment of fibroids. Notably, of the 600,000 hysterectomies performed annually in the United States, almost one half of these are due to fibroids.
"Although hysterectomy is a tried-and-true cure for fibroids-and is the best approach for some women-it does have its drawbacks. Risks associated with undergoing major surgery, significant recovery time, and the removal of an organ from one's body are unacceptable to many women. UFE is a less-invasive, low-risk alternative that spares the uterus while offering very good results," says Matsumoto.
UFE-Less-Invasive, Low-Risk
"UFE works simply by blocking the blood supply that feeds the fibroids so the fibroids are starved and shrink, thereby relieving symptoms," says Matsumoto. On average, 90 percent of women who have undergone UFE report relief from heavy bleeding, and 85 percent report relief from pain.
In UFE, a tiny tube called a catheter is inserted into a very small cut made in the skin near the groin. A numbing agent is used so that the patient, who is awake but mildly sedated, feels no pain during the procedure. Using fluoroscopy (a type of X-ray), contrast dye is injected into the blood vessels and the interventional radiologist guides the catheter into the arteries that supply blood to the fibroids. Next, plastic particles no bigger than a sand grain are injected through the catheter into these arteries, thereby blocking blood flow to the fibroids. Without blood supply, the fibroids bleed less and begin to shrink.
Most UFE patients stay in the hospital overnight for observation. Typically, patients feel some discomfort for the first 24-hours, but then rapidly begin to feel better over the next few days. "Many of my patients are back to their normal activity within a week or so," says Matsumoto.
UFE-Is It for You?
Any woman who has been advised to have a hysterectomy to treat her fibroids should talk to her doctor about UFE, says Matsumoto. A woman is considered a good candidate for UFE if she:
- has moderate to severe symptoms related to fibroids
- is interested in avoiding major surgery
- does not plan to get pregnant
Adds Matsumoto, "Hysterectomy might be the best approach for one woman and UFE for another. A woman needs to know about the pros and cons of all treatment choices available to her so that she can make an informed decision."
Considering UFE to Treat Uterine Fibroids?
To make an appointment with UFE expert Alan Matsumoto, M.D., at the University of Virginia Health System, call 888-882-9892.