Uterine Fibroids
Uterine Fibroids:
Are non-cancerous (benign) tumors that develop in the uterus. They are made up of muscular and fibrous tissue and can be tiny in size (microscopic) and can grow to a much larger size, causing adverse symptoms to the patient. It is very rare for them to become cancerous.
These noncancerous uterine fibroids often appear during childbearing years and typically aren't associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer. Women can have a single fibroid or multiple fibroids, ranging from microscopic in size, to as large as a grapefruit, or larger. In some cases, multiple fibroids can put pressure and expand the uterus. Fibroids often times grow on the outside of the uterus wall (subserosal) and can push outside of the uterus into the pelvis. Other types of Fibroids grow in the muscle of the uterus (intramural) and less commonly inside of the uterus, just under the uterine lining (submusocal) and can grow into the uterine cavity.
Symptoms
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Bleeding or Spotting between periods
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Longer and/or heavier period cycles
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Increased urgency to urinate and more urinations than normal
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A feeling of pressure in the lower belly
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Vaginal discomfort during Intercourse
Treatments
At Expert Vascular Care we perform uterine fibroid embolizations (UFE) to shrink the fibroids. This minimally-invasive procedure is an alternative to more invasive procedures, like hysterectomy or myomectomy. During the UFE outpatient treatment, the blood vessels that feed the fibroid tumors are blocked, making them shrink. A small catheter is introduced through either the groin or the wrist to gain access to the arteries of the uterus. Once this x-ray guided catheter is in position, it will inject special embolic agents into the artery, blocking the blood supply. This is ultimately killing the fibroids and they will shrink over time.