1. What Are Uterine Fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are benign, non-cancerous tumors that grow in and around the uterus. There are different types of fibroids and they are classified by where they are located in the uterus. Fibroids can be small like a pea, large like a pumpkin, or anywhere in between.

Fibroids can cause a host of symptoms that can inhibit a woman’s ability to carry out her normal day-to-day activities and significantly impact her quality of life. Some of the symptoms of fibroids are:

• Heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding;
• Abdominal pain & pressure;
• Painful intercourse;
• Back or leg pain;
• Frequent urination (even interrupting sleep);
• Fatigue, weakness, lightheadedness, brain fog (cloudy thinking), migraine-like headaches, chewing or craving ice due to chronic iron-deficiency anemia.

2. What Is Uterine Fibroid Embolization?

Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is an outpatient, nonsurgical procedure that does not require a hospital or a hospital stay. It is performed by an Interventional Radiologist expertly trained in UFE like Dr. John Lipman or Dr. Mitchell Ermentrout of the Atlanta Fibroid Center.

During the procedure, the blood supply that is vital to the survival of the fibroids is cut off causing them to die. As they die, they soften and shrink, resulting in significant or complete relief of the woman’s symptoms. Some women feel relief as early as their first menstrual period after UFE!

3. Does Uterine Fibroid Embolization Really Work?

Uterine fibroid embolization is successful in 90% of women who undergo the procedure. In certain instances, a fibroid may not be connected to the uterine blood supply and does not respond to the treatment. Dr. Lipman is an expert in his field and has helped nearly 10,000 women reclaim their quality of life and their uterine fibroid embolization reviews prove it.

4. Do Fibroids Grow Back After Embolization?

Fibroids are hard and firm to the touch. When the blood supply is cut off to the fibroids, they begin to soften. This softening is followed by shrinking of the fibroids; the combination of which leads to symptom improvement.

Some of the fibroids will disappear, and some shrink but remain in the uterine muscle. This is similar to what occurs when a woman enters menopause. These dead fibroids will never bother the woman again.

5. Why Was I Not Told About UFE?

One of the questions we hear very often is “Why didn’t I know about UFE when I was diagnosed with fibroids?” Or “How come my Ob-Gyn only gave me myomectomy and hysterectomy as options for fibroid treatment?

One of the most common reasons is because an Ob-Gyn is a surgeon and as surgeons, they know and understand surgery. Both of these options are surgical procedures that are performed by Ob-Gyns. UFE is performed by a different type of physician, an Interventional Radiologist who is expertly trained in the UFE procedure. In 2008, the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) endorsed UFE as a safe and effective procedure to treat symptomatic fibroids for women that wanted to keep their uterus. Therefore, it is unacceptable for Ob-Gyns not to mention UFE for all of their symptomatic fibroid patients.

Another reason is that until recently women were not openly sharing their experiences with each other. Women who were suffering from fibroid symptoms thought they were “unusual” or “alone”. They did not realize there are so many women out there just like them, having the same experience. When women began having conversations about fibroids, sharing information, and learning from each other, lives started to change!