Fibroids are benign tumors of the uterus that cause a variety of symptoms which can include heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain and pressure, urinary frequency, miscarriage, and reduced fertility. According to the Society of Interventional Radiology (www.SIRweb.org), one in five American women 35 and older have fibroids, and nearly half of pre-menopausal African American women have fibroids of “significant size”.

Uterine Fibroid Artery Embolization, (UFAE) is the use of interventional radiology techniques used to seal off the blood supply to fibroid tumors, which causes them to shrink. It spares the uterus and has a much quicker recovery rate and lower risks than surgical removal. This alternative to hysterectomy, removal of the uterus, is part of a trend to treat patients in the least invasive way possible. Embolization has been used for two decades to decrease blood loss in major surgeries, in trauma victims, and in hemorrhage after childbirth.
An endovascular surgeon makes a tiny incision and guides a catheter, carrying sand-like particles, into the femoral artery, which is near the surface of the thigh. Using real-time imaging, the physician positions the catheter to the blood vessels supplying the fibroids. The physician then releases the particles to block the blood source causing the tumors to shrink.  

What are the advantages of Uterine Fibroid Artery Embolization?
In addition to the tiny incision and average one-hour procedure time, this approach:

• Preserves fertility
• Treats multiple fibroid sites
• Involves significantly less blood loss than surgery
• Requires one day in the hospital versus two or three for myomectomy  
• Allows return to work much sooner

Surgical Treatment

Myomectomy is the other procedure that saves the uterus, but it requires a large incision through the uterus to cut out the largest fibroid, or a cluster of them. Since most patients have multiple fibroids, this procedure has limited applications because it is not possible to remove more tumors without removing more of the uterus. According to the Society of Interventional Radiology, up to half of women who have myomectomies have a complete recurrence of symptoms within five years. One-third will have symptoms within three years.