You may have heard or read online that if you’re interested in having children you can’t be considered for UFE. Dr Lipman has had countless pregnancies after UFE; even 3 set of twins born! He reminds us that births after UFE are typically full-term and vaginal, whereas those women who had myomectomy must have a C-section and are not allowed a vaginal birth. One of our recent patients at the Atlanta Fibroid Center tells her story of initial heartbreak with fibroids and infertility, but ultimately found joy after meeting Dr Lipman and undergoing UFE!
She had four miscarriages prior to undergoing UFE. She suffered from multiple uterine fibroids which continued to grow. She was frustrated and disappointed every time she visited a doctor because it usually resulted in heartache from the loss of another baby But she did not want to give up and continued her search. For the first time, she saw Dr. John C. Lipman on “Real Housewives of Atlanta” and then Googled his number. It changed everything.
At the Atlanta Fibroid Center, she met Dr. Lipman and learned a lot about uterine fibroid embolization.
“I understood that this was what I needed. I did not want to have surgery, and my prayers were answered.”
She had the procedure done in March and very soon saw a big difference in the waistline and her symptoms. She was very pleased with her results: no more pain, no more heavy periods, and feeling better with a lot more energy. She returned to work in a week.
“I did not even understand what had happened. The best decision of my life. I feel like a different woman, I feel like a different person”.
UFE and Pregnancy: After 4 Miscarriages She Finally Became a Mom
About 3 months after her UFE procedure, she learned that she was pregnant again. At first she was scared and didn’t know what to expect because of the previous miscarriages. But when she went to the OB/GYN, she was told that everything looked fine. The first visit to the doctor’s went well, and so did the second, the third, the fourth ones… Her miracle baby was healthy and ready to come to the world.
“I knew for sure I would be able to carry a full-term baby. I still was under watch with the doctors, but everything was perfect.”
At the very first ultrasound there were 8 fibroids, Then by my next visit, only 2 of 8 fibroids were visible; and by then they were only the size of a grape. During the second ultrasound, they were the size of a pea, and finally disappeared completely. The fibroids rapidly diminished thanks to the UFE allowing the baby to grow fully to 9.6 lbs!
She became symptom free, fibroid-free, and she became a mother!
“Life is too short to be miserable. I tell every woman – don’t give up, especially if you come here, it is just going to be a whole different outcome of life. You’ll be able to have a baby, so do what you are supposed to do, come to get the procedure done. I’m really glad that I came. I was pregnant because of the [UFE] procedure. It was safe, it was simple, and I am still in a better position in my life after I had the baby, I still feel good. If I had not come here, I would not be holding my daughter in my arms.”
If you suffer from uterine fibroids and are not ready to give up on the dream of having children, consider UFE and make an appointment with Dr. John Lipman. There is a solution, there are options. #DontLoseUrU #AtlantaFibroidCenter #UFE
The first ever Inaugural Sharecare Awards otherwise known as medical Emmys took place in Atlanta on March 14, 2019.
The Sharecare Awards, in association with The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, New York Chapter, inspired hundreds of digital creators and supporters of health programs and medical journalism.
No one can tell the story of Sharecare Awards and highlight its mission better than Jeff Arnold, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Sharecare (and Founder of WebMD):
The committed judges and a team of extraordinary healthcare and media experts explored achievements in various fields of health, including documentaries, TV series, web/online programming, and more. The American Red Cross and Dr. Sanjay Gupta received Humanitarian Awards, Marlo Thomas of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital was recognized by the Lifetime Achievement Award by Sharecare; and the Atlanta Police Foundation received the Founder’s Award for outstanding contributions in the area of public and community health.
For Atlanta Fibroid Center and Dr. John Lipman, the highlight of the night was the recognition of “Freedom from Fibroids” documentary. The film became a finalist in the category “Health/Science: Program Special“. “Freedom from Fibroids” is a full-length documentary which follows 10 brave women fighting with fibroids, sharing their struggles, and follows their victories over fibroids without surgery.
Uterine fibroids are benign (noncancerous) tumors that are commonly present in women; particularly women of color. They are the most frequent cause of heavy periods, but they can cause other symptoms like pelvic pain or pressure, increased urinary frequency, or painful sex.
Related: Uterine Fibroid Symptoms Explained
Fibroids are often asymptomatic but over time these tumors will grow. The larger these fibroids become, the more likely they will cause symptoms. Fibroids can grow to the size of a melon. Therefore women with fibroids often ask whether the fibroids will cause them to gain weight.
