With the new year underway, it is important to prioritize your health. Houston Vascular Care is working to drive women’s health care forward by providing education about a common condition that affects many women of reproductive age — uterine fibroids.
Through this information, we hope to help many women improve the quality and safety of their health care.
What Is Uterine Fibroid Embolization?
A uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a minimally invasive procedure and non-surgical hysterectomy alternative for the treatment of fibroid tumors of the uterus. During this procedure, a doctor will inject small particles into the arteries feeding the fibroid. These particles attach to the vessel wall and cause clots to develop, which block blood from reaching the growth. The fibroid gradually shrinks over the following weeks and months due to a lack of blood.
Why Would I Need a Uterine Artery Embolization?
Uterine fibroid embolization aims to remove uterine fibroid tumors causing symptoms such as pain or low blood count. Estimates show that 20% to 50% of women of childbearing age currently have uterine fibroids, and the majority of women will develop fibroids at some point in their reproductive years. However, less than half of these fibroids are large enough for a health care provider to identify them during an exam, so many women do not receive a proper diagnosis.
A fibroid can be anywhere from as small as a pea to as large as a grapefruit. You may qualify for uterine artery embolization if your fibroid is larger and you are experiencing symptoms like:
- Back or leg pain
- Infertility
- Abnormally large stomach
- Enlarged uterus
- A feeling of fullness or stomach pain
- Anemia due to uterine bleeding
- Discomfort during sexual intercourse
- Bowel pressure resulting in constipation and bloating
- Pressure on your bladder making you feel the need to urinate frequently
What to Expect During Uterine Fibroid Embolization
While the exact pre- and post-operative processes for UFE will vary depending on your health and the condition of your fibroids, you can generally expect the following:
- Your physician will use image guidance to make a small, single incision in your groin area before inserting a thin catheter into the artery and guiding it to the uterus.
- Once the catheter is in place, the physician will inject microspheres into the artery supplying the fibroid with blood. These microspheres will then cut off blood circulation to the fibroids and cause them to shrink.
Most uterine fibroid embolization procedures take 45-60 minutes. After completing your procedure, your surgery team will take you to a recovery room for observation before you can return home.
How to Increase Uterine Fibroid Awareness
While uterine fibroids will impact up to 77% of women, a widespread lack of awareness has made it difficult for women to receive treatment for this common issue. Since multiple health conditions affecting women have overlapping symptoms, many women receive an incorrect diagnosis or do not know their treatment options.
One of the best ways to increase awareness of uterine fibroids for yourself and others is by scheduling regular wellness exams. Of women who attend regular exams, only 41% have heard of uterine fibroids. Meanwhile, 62% of women who do not undergo regular examinations have no knowledge of this condition.
During this first month of 2025, take care of welfare and ask them to prioritize their health. For example, you can encourage them to schedule wellness exams or provide them with educational resources about uterine fibroids and other underdiagnosed conditions to help them make informed decisions regarding their health.
Find Relief With Houston Vascular Care
Uterine fibroid embolization offers many benefits, such as preserving fertility and lowering the risk of infection, and requires minimal recovery time. At Houston Vascular Care, we want to help restore your quality of life through innovative, personalized procedures. We invite you to schedule an evaluation for uterine fibroid embolization and start your journey toward relieving your symptoms today.