Unusual menstrual symptoms?

You may have uterine fibroids. Know your options.

Signs of uterine fibroids range from heavy prolonged menstrual bleeding to sexual dysfunction, frequent urination, and other symptoms which can affect your quality of life. To request an appointment or consultation for help regarding your fibroid options, click on the appointment button on the right or view our contact information .

Want to learn more about fibroid treatments? Learn more at infoUFE.com .

You can also download our UFE Fact Sheet .

What are uterine fibroids?

Fibroids are benign tumors (non-cancerous) that develop from the smooth muscle layer of the uterus. 25-50% of women eventually develop fibroids and most frequently occur in women between ages 30-50.

What are the different types of fibroids?

There are four types of fibroids: submucosal, intramural, subserosal, and pedunculated. Submuscoal fibroids form on the outer lining of the uterus. Intramural fibroids form on the inter lining of the uterus. Subserosal fibroids form within the uterine lining. Pedunculated fibroids form cavities separate from the uterine lining and have two variations. Pedunculated subserosal fibroids form outside of the uterus and pedunculated submuscoal fibroids form inside of the uterus.

Any of these types of fibroids can cause severe lifestyle complications.

What are the causes of uterine fibroids?

The exact causes are currently unknown, but studies have linked fibroids to estrogen levels. Evidence has indicated that progesterone may also stimulate fibroid growth. Women with fibroids often have a genetic predisposition. African American women are 2-3 times likely to develop fibroids than Caucasian women.

What are the most common symptoms of fibroids?

Fibroids only cause symptoms in 30-50% of the women who have them, but the symptoms can be bothersome or even life threatening. They include heavy bleeding, bloating protruding belly, reproductive dysfunction, depression, frequent urination or constipation, and pelvic pain.

How is the fibroid diagnosis made?

The uterine fibroid diagnosis is usually based on your symptoms and a routine gynecological internal exam. An OB-GYN often relies on an ultrasound exam for confirmation, but magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the most accurate test to confirm the presence of fibroids. We work with your OB-GYN to improve the accuracy of diagnosis, offer the best treatment options, and deliver excellent outcomes.

What happens during the UFE procedure?

After you are mildly sedated, the Interventional Radiologist inserts a thin tube (catheter) into the femoral artery, located in your groin, near your thigh. The catheter is guided to the uterine artery that supplies blood to the fibroids. The physician injects tiny embolic spheres through the catheter to block the blood supply, causing the fibroids to starve and shrink.

What are the advantages of UFE?

Compared to surgery (i.e., hysterectomy, myomectomy), UFE is far less invasive with fewer complications. UFE offers a faster recovery: patients usually return to normal activities within days instead of weeks. In addition, UFE is effective against large and multiple fibroids, and recurrence of fibroid symptoms is rare.

A catheter is used to deploy particles into blood vessels that support fibroids.

What are my treatment alternatives?

Drug and hormone therapy may cause unwanted side effects and the fibroids often grow back after the therapy is discontinued.

Myomectomy removes fibroids and leaves the uterus intact, but is a complicated procedure with a 15-25% chance of having to be repeated.

While hysterectomy is 100% curative, this option involves major surgery (removal of the uterus) and often results in early menopause.

UFE Fact Sheet

Download our fact sheet to learn about uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), a minimally invasive procedure to treat uterine fibroids.

Download UFE Fact Sheet

Learn More

To learn more about UFE treatment, visit infoUFE.com .