Tired of Fibroid Pain? Discover the Benefits of Non-Surgical Uterine Fibroid Embolization

Are you dealing with heavy menstrual bleeding that exhausts you? Pelvic pain that limits your activities? Maybe you are experiencing pressure in your lower abdomen that makes sitting or sex uncomfortable.

It could be uterine fibroids — and surgical removal isn’t your only option for relief.

Uterine fibroid embolization is a minimally invasive option that treats fibroids and relieves your symptoms without surgery or loss of your uterus. Our team at Vascular & Interventional Specialists offers fibroid embolization in Miami, Florida, and here’s what you need to know.

Understanding uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors growing in or on your uterus. They're very common, and up to 80% of women develop fibroids by age 50.

Fibroids vary in size, location, and number. You might have just one, or you could have dozens. Some are tiny, while others grow to melon-sized masses. 

Some develop within your uterine wall, some project inward into your uterine cavity, and others grow outward toward surrounding organs.

Common uterine fibroid symptoms

Most fibroids cause no symptoms and never require treatment. However, some fibroids grow large or in locations that cause pain or other significant problems.

When fibroids become problematic, heavy menstrual bleeding is the most common complaint. 

You may have periods so heavy you're changing tampons or pads every hour, bleeding that lasts longer than about seven days, or you may pass large blood clots. This heavy bleeding can cause anemia, fatigue, and exhaustion.

Pelvic pain and pressure can also develop when fibroids press on surrounding structures. You might experience cramping, aching, or a sensation of heaviness in your lower abdomen. 

Pressure on your bladder causes frequent urination, while pain during intercourse can make intimate relationships difficult.

Fibroids can also cause infertility or pregnancy complications if they distort your uterine cavity, put pressure on ovaries, or interfere with implantation.

When to consider treatment for fibroid symptoms

Fibroids that don’t cause bothersome symptoms rarely require treatment. But if your fibroid symptoms significantly impact your daily functioning, treatment can make a big difference for your quality of life.

Treatment options vary based on your symptoms, your desire to preserve your uterus, and your future fertility goals. Our team at Vascular & Interventional Specialists offers uterine fibroid embolization as a popular non-surgical solution.

How uterine fibroid embolization works

Uterine fibroid embolization is a minimally invasive interventional radiology procedure that shrinks fibroids by cutting off their blood supply. Fibroids require significant blood flow to survive and grow. By blocking that blood flow, fibroids gradually shrink and eventually die off.

Fibroid embolization offers benefits compared to traditional fibroid treatments like hysterectomy. Most importantly, embolization preserves your uterus and your fertility while effectively eliminating fibroid symptoms. 

The procedure can also shrink fibroids significantly—often by about 40-60% in 3-6 months. 

What to expect during uterine fibroid embolization

During the procedure, we administer light sedation for your comfort. Our interventional radiologist makes a small puncture, typically in your groin, and threads a catheter through your arteries to the uterine arteries that supply your fibroids.

Using real-time imaging guidance, we position the catheter and inject embolic agents into the arteries. 

These agents are tiny particles that safely block specific blood vessels and cut off blood flow to the fibroid tissue. Your uterus's normal blood supply comes from larger vessels that aren't blocked, so healthy uterine tissue remains unharmed.

We remove the catheter, and you recover in observation before going home. The entire procedure typically takes 1-2 hours. You can expect to return to normal activities within a few days rather than the weeks or months required for more invasive surgery.

You don’t have to live with fibroid pain, and invasive hysterectomy isn’t your only treatment option. Contact Vascular & Interventional Specialists to find out if uterine fibroid embolization could eliminate your fibroid symptoms and restore your quality of life.