Frequently Asked Questions
Uterine fibroid embolization is a technique for shrinking uterine fibroids, which are noncancerous tumors in the uterus. Because it does not require significant surgery, you may be able to recover faster. It's also possible that you won't need to stay in the hospital. Fibroid embolization in the uterus reduces fibroids by cutting off their blood supply.
The level of pain varies from patient to patient. The worst discomfort usually happens right after the surgery and lasts for the next six hours. This pain is described by patients as being similar to menstruation cramps. Some patients are completely pain-free.
Uterine fibroid embolization is a highly effective surgery with an estimated 85 percent success rate. The majority of women who have the treatment have a significant improvement in their symptoms as well as a reduction in the size of their uterine fibroids. After UFE, if menstruation has been heavy, it should recover to a more regular flow.
Embolization of the uterine artery is generally considered safe. Complications are rare. However, do speak with your doctor about any potential risks.
The trial demonstrated that after UAE, it is possible to conceive and carry a pregnancy to term. It also showed that the surgery increased the chance of aberrant placentation, low or extremely low birth weights, and preterm births.
Source- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
A postfertility, premenopausal patient with symptomatic uterine fibroids who wants to avoid hysterectomy is a suitable candidate for Uterine Fibroids Embolization. Patients with pedunculated subserosal fibroids are not regarded excellent candidates, despite the fact that there is no predetermined size restriction.
Experts say that you will still get your period following a UFE operation, but your flow will become lighter with each menstruation cycle. You will continue to have your period. In fact, your first period after the operation is highly likely to be really heavy.
When comparing a hysterectomy to Uterine Fibroid Embolization, UFE is less painful, has less dangers, and takes less time to recover. You can go home the same day as your operation with this minimally invasive approach.
In most cases, patients who have cervical, endometrial, or uterine cancer are not candidates for embolization. Besides, women who have a pelvic infection that is active, recent, or persistent or patients suffering from severe peripheral vascular disease, or women who have uncontrollable bleeding are not good candidates for Uterine Fibroids Embolization.
Because fibroid tumors frequently grow back after hormone therapy is stopped, uterine fibroid embolization is a more permanent cure than hormonal therapy.
About 25,000 UAE procedures are performed around the world each year.
Though rare, following are the risks associated with uterine artery embolization:
- The catheter could induce an infection or harm other blood vessels in the area if it is inserted incorrectly. When UAE is performed by a skilled practitioner, the chances of this happening are fewer than 1%.
- The embolic agent could end up in an unexpected blood vessel, cutting off oxygen and nutrients to vital tissue.
- It's possible that you'll have an allergic reaction to the X-ray contrast dyes.
- Following uterine fibroid embolization, between 1% to 5% of women's menstrual cycles will be permanently disrupted (UFE). Women over the age of 45 are more likely to experience this.
- The younger a woman is when she has UFE, the more likely it is that symptoms may return and a hysterectomy will be required.
Within ten days, ninety percent of patients are back to normal. A hysterectomy, on the other hand, can take up to six weeks to recuperate from.