Do you suffer from painful periods? Don’t panic. Get yourself investigated!

What are uterine fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are a common type of noncancerous tumor that can grow in and on your uterus. They’re also called leiomyomas. According to Mayo Clinic, uterine fibroids grow in the uterus with the help of hormones produced by ovaries during the fertile period of women that is 20-45 years. 

These fibroids can be of different sizes and they can either be single fibroid or more than one. In extreme cases, some fibroids grow large enough to fill the pelvis. It is noteworthy that both adenomyosis and fibroids share symptoms but are distinctly different diseases. In the case of adenomyosis, the tissue from the lining of your uterus grows into your uterine wall.

What are the symptoms of uterine fibroids?

Often uterine fibroids does not produce any symptoms. However depending on the size, location and number of fibroids, the most common symptoms of uterine fibroids include:

Menorrhagia – This is a condition in which there is heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding and often occurs along with extreme cramping and pain or dysmenorrhea.

Pelvic pressure or pain.

Frequent urination.

Constipation.

Pain in the stomach area or lower back, or pain during sex.

In rare cases, a fibroid can cause sudden, serious intolerable pain when it outgrows its blood supply and starts to undergo degeneration / torsion where it twists around it’s pedicle.

How are uterine fibroids treated?

There’s no single treatment for uterine fibroids. With medical advancements, various treatment options are now available.

One such procedure is, uterine fibroid embolization (UFE). Uterine fibroid embolization is a minimally invasive alternative to hysterectomy or myomectomy.

How uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is performed?

Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a safe and effective non invasive treatment for fibroids that has gained immense success in the last decade.

All fibroids require supply of blood to survive and grow. UFE takes advantage of this fact to target the fibroid. It is a pin hole procedure and it does not require removal of the uterus. A small incision is made in the groin to gain access to the femoral artery. A long flexible tube, called the catheter, is then inserted into the artery. It is then guided up the uterine artery which is the primary blood supply to the uterus and fibroids.

The tiny microspheres are then injected through the catheter till there is complete blockage of the blood supply to the fibroids.

The procedure is repeated in the uterine artery on the other side to make sure that all blood supply to the fibroids has been cut off. All fibroids are treated in a single session.

What to expect after uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is performed?

Once the blood supply to the fibroids has been blocked, the fibroids begin to shrink over time. Patients begin to experience symptomatic relief as early as the next cycle. It can be monitored with scans like ultrasound or Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

What are the advantages of uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) over surgery?

UFE is gaining immense popularity because it is done as a day care procedure and it does not require anesthesia. Patients find it extremely comfortable as it does not involve any cuts / scar / blood loss. 

Women can return to their normal day to day activities within a few days of the procedure.  

UFE can be repeated if there is recurrence of symptoms or further growth of new fibroids.

What are the side effects of UFE?

No major side affects are associated with it. It is a very safe and effective procedure.

Who are not eligible to undergo UFE?

Pregnant patients.

Pelvic infection. 

Ask your doctor if UFE is the right treatment for you.

Dr. Sathya Narayanan R

Dr. Sathya Narayanan R

Consultant Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, MBBS., MD(Radiodiagnosis), Fellowship in Neuro & Vascular Interventional Radiology

Kauvery Hospital Alwarpet, Chennai