Interventional Radiologist at Harbor Hospital, Baltimore, MD.
Do you often say….
“I am in pain a lot. The continual bleeding is horrible. The uncertainty is overwhelming. I tried birth control pills to stop the bleeding. They were a little effective but only for a short while.”
“My periods are getting heavier, they are unbearable. My life is limited because of my periods.”
“I have cramps that have gotten worse, and have become unbearable. I take too many pain pills daily."
"I have fibroids, what do I do?"
“I have heavy periods every two weeks which leaves me moody and irritable. One minute I’m crying, the next one, I’m angry.”
“My fibroids have limited my lifestyle.”
“I’ve had fibroids before. I had them removed, but they returned. I am always fatigued."
“I don’t have a normal menstrual cycle which puts many restrictions on my life.”
If you have said of the quotes above or you live with constant abdominal pain and pressure or excessive menstrual bleeding, you're not alone. Almost three in four women develop noncancerous tumors in the uterus called Uterine Fibroids, which can cause these symptoms. These fibroids also can result in back pain, pain during intercourse and difficulty passing urine or having bowel movements. However, about 40 percent of women who have these fibroids never experience any symptoms. In any case Uterine Female Embolization (UFE) may be the solution for you.
What is UFE?
Hysterectomy which is removing the uterus, or womb used to be the mainstay to treat uterine fibroids. Now, a non-surgical, gentler, less invasive alternative known as Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is available. This procedure relieves heavy bleeding in about 90 percent of cases.
Women, who undergo UFE avoid major surgery and its risks and complications. There's no major anesthesia needed and no scarring after the procedure. Patients typically recover within seven to 10 days which is much less than the recovery time of a hysterectomy.
Other benefits of UFE include:
• keeping your uterus,
• virtually no blood loss,
• resolving most post-procedural pain within a few days
• a very low chance of needing hormone replacement after the procedure.
UFE which is also known as uterine arterial embolization, involves an incision in the groin about the size of the end of a pen. A surgical tube is guided to the arteries that feed the uterus, and sand-sized particles are placed in the arteries to block blood flow. This causes tumors to shrink, relieving pain and pressure.
If you need help on this matter, contact Dr. Andrew Brown, M.D. of Harbor Hospital via the link below he will help you determine if UFE is right for you.
http://www.harborhospital.org/body.cfm?ID=555555&?CFID=4022618&CFTOKEN=29414034&UserAction=DoctorDetails&action=&doctorid=5621&ziplongitude=0&ZipLatitude=0
Uterine Fibroids are most common in women older than 30, with African-American women being at higher risk. A simple imaging test that provides details about the size and shape of the tumors can determine if you're a good candidate for UFE.
Women who have gone through the procedure say...
“I learned about UFE and was hopeful. I had it on a Thursday and I was back to work on Monday. 3 days after my procedure, the bleeding stopped. UFE made a difference in my life.”
“I was told to consider having a hysterectomy or have the fibroids cut out, but they could grow back again, so UFE was the best choice for me.”
“While considering a myomectomy or a hysterectomy, I attended a seminar on fibroid tumors and treatment options. I was told about UFE and I had the procedure. The difference in my lifestyle is incomparable."
“After having UFE my flow isn’t as heavy as it used to be, and I’m much happier.”
“I am comfortable, for the first time in two decades."
"There's no more pressure, and I feel completely different. I'm a new person."
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