Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are prevalent, non-cancerous growths that develop from the muscular layer of the uterus. Approximately 5.5 million women in the United States experience symptoms severe enough to necessitate treatment, often through hysterectomy. Each year, around 600,000 hysterectomies are conducted in the U.S., with one-third of these procedures performed due to symptomatic uterine fibroids. The Uterine Fibroid Center at Baptist Medical Center South aims to offer a non-surgical, minimally invasive alternative to hysterectomy for women suffering from symptomatic fibroids.

As many as 80 percent of women may have uterine fibroids, which can lead to various symptoms:

• Heavy Bleeding
• Pelvic Discomfort
• Abdominal Bloating
• Anemia
• Leg pain
• Pressure on organs such as the bladder and bowels

Hysterectomy vs. Uterine Fibroid Embolization

A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the entire uterus and typically requires a recovery period of 4-6 weeks. Another option, a Myomectomy, involves the removal of fibroids while preserving the uterus, but it is also a highly invasive procedure that necessitates a lengthy recovery.

An alternative that preserves the uterus is Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE). This minimally invasive procedure, conducted by an interventional radiologist, entails a small incision and the insertion of a catheter into the uterine arteries, where tiny particles are injected into the blood vessels supplying the fibroids to obstruct blood flow to the tumors. Most patients experience quick relief from symptoms, and over time, the fibroids diminish in size.

Clinical research has demonstrated that UFE significantly alleviates major fibroid symptoms, including pain, pelvic discomfort, and urinary issues:

• At the nine-month follow-up, 94 percent of women who underwent UFE expressed satisfaction with the procedure.
• Women resumed their daily activities more than three times faster than those who underwent a hysterectomy.