What is UFE? Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure used to treat uterine fibroids that can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, pain, and pressure on the bladder or bowels. UFE Fibroid Treatment is executed at the USA Fibroid Center. Contact me for more details.
UFE Fibroid Treatment
Studies have shown with the highest level of scientific evidence that nearly 90 percent of women who benefit from UFE procedures have significant or complete resolution of their fibroid-related symptoms. UFE Fibroid Treatment thus makes it possible to keep the uterus and to avoid surgery with a shorter convalescence time and without scarring.
UFE can also treat internal adenomyosis or endometriosis and bleeding from the uterus after childbirth (postpartum hemorrhage).
I have symptomatic fibroids. Can I know if I am a candidate for UFE Fibroid Treatment?
If your fibroids are responsible for an alteration in your quality of life, there is probably an indication for a UFE procedure to take place. An adapted questionnaire will calculate this impact before and after the treatment. The imaging is carried out by ultrasound, most often by a pelvic MRI. This also makes it possible to map the uterine arteries in anticipation of embolization, saving time on the day of UFE Fibroid Treatment.
Depending on your symptoms and the position of the fibroids, your gynecologist will choose the most suitable UFE procedure for the treatment. If there must be a physical treatment of fibroids, they will inform you of the surgical invasive possibilities. You can then also consult an interventional radiologist to be informed about the opportunities for minimally invasive non-surgical treatments.
What goes into the UFE procedure?
UFE is a revolutionary, minimally invasive technique that prevents the blood supply to the fibroids by occluding the small arteries. The UFE procedure is performed through a puncture in the groin; the femoral artery is reached. Then a catheter is passed that is directed to the uterine arteries, observing its path with digital angiography equipment. Once the catheter is placed in the fibroid artery, small particles that look like grains of sand are injected, and they close off the artery. Once the blood supply is interrupted, the fibroids begin to reduce their size.
This UFE Fibroid Treatment is performed with anesthetic sedation, meaning the patient is sedated but awake. It is done through a puncture with a needle, so there is no need to give stitches, and the postoperative period is two days on average.
And after the UFE procedure, is it painful?
After the UFE procedure, pain may occur related to fibroid necrosis. During the operation and your hospitalization, you are looked after by an anesthetic doctor. The embolization is thus carried out under conscious sedation, ensuring optimal comfort. Once in the room, the pain, if it exists, continues to be treated thanks to a combination of pain and anti-inflammatory medication, including a morphine pump on demand effectively. This optimized pain management requires either a short hospitalization (1 to 2 nights) or the cooperation of home nursing care.
Fibroids And Infertility
Classically, submucosal fibroids and fibroids distorting the uterine cavity can impair fertility. It is, therefore, licit to remove them from infertile women. More recently, the study of the literature24 reveals that even interstitial fibroids that do not distort the cavity can alter the results of in vitro fertilization. Similarly, myomectomy of the fibroid responsible for menometrorrhagia improves fertility.
It is now established that the desire for pregnancy is not a contraindication to myomectomy. The postoperative pregnancy rate mainly depends on the patient’s age (better before 35), the duration of infertility before myomectomy, and other associated factors. However, caution should be exercised when indicating laparoscopic myomectomy.
It is important to note that a multidisciplinary group of professionals continuously monitors the procedure. Schedule an appointment for the UFE Fibroid Treatment online today.
Beth is Cloudmineinc’s senior health editor and a certified personal trainer. She has over 10 years experience as a science journalist and is the author of two books. She deadlifts over 315 lbs.