Fibroids? UFE?
Fibroids are benign tumors of the uterus. Benign means they do not behave like a cancer and spread to other parts of the body. That's the good news. The bad news is fibroids can cause a lot of misery.
They can cause heavy abnormal menstrual bleeding. So much bleeding that patients with them are often anemic. They are a common cause of pelvic pain. Sex can be painful because of the fibroids.
Fibroids can press on the bladder making you feel like you have to pee all of the time. And they can press on the rectum, causing constipation and bloating. They can make your abdomen stick out as if you were pregnant.
A classic treatment for fibroids is surgical removal of the uterus: hysterectomy. But a much less radical, highly effective, non-surgical treatment is Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE)
UFE is a medical procedure; not some iffy alternative therapy. The procedure is performed in a hospital by our sub-specialty trained physicians. UFE is safer than hysterectomy, has a shorter recovery time and will get rid of the fibroids without the need for surgery.
If you are suffering from fibroids and want to avoid surgery UFE might be your solution. And if you are considering hysterectomy, you would be well served to read the rest of this page before you decide.
They can cause heavy abnormal menstrual bleeding. So much bleeding that patients with them are often anemic. They are a common cause of pelvic pain. Sex can be painful because of the fibroids.
Fibroids can press on the bladder making you feel like you have to pee all of the time. And they can press on the rectum, causing constipation and bloating. They can make your abdomen stick out as if you were pregnant.
A classic treatment for fibroids is surgical removal of the uterus: hysterectomy. But a much less radical, highly effective, non-surgical treatment is Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE)
UFE is a medical procedure; not some iffy alternative therapy. The procedure is performed in a hospital by our sub-specialty trained physicians. UFE is safer than hysterectomy, has a shorter recovery time and will get rid of the fibroids without the need for surgery.
If you are suffering from fibroids and want to avoid surgery UFE might be your solution. And if you are considering hysterectomy, you would be well served to read the rest of this page before you decide.
Fibroids can make your tummy protrude, making people think you are pregnant.
While UFE is not performed by gynecologists, their professional society determined a decade ago that it is safe and effective for women who don't want surgery:
UFE is "safe and effective"*
American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG)
* Please note, UFE is not ideal for every woman. It is a procedure that has known complications just like any other medical procedure. I can help you decide if UFE is right for you.
News interview about UFE by Ursula Pari from KSAT 12
Most women to go home a few hours after UFE!
We used to keep all of our UFE patients overnight in the hospital for pain control. But a decade ago we adopted a nerve block; a method to temporarily decrease the sensation in the pelvis after UFE, similar to how the dentist numbs your mouth before a procedure. This simple and safe modification has made an impressive difference...most women have only moderate discomfort, a pressure sensation in the pelvis, after UFE and can go home a few hours after the procedure.
Want to learn more about UFE?
One of our IR doctors, John Thomas, MD has created a web site wholly dedicated to teaching you about this wonderful, non-surgical solution. Follow this link to that page. or cut and paste this into your web browser address bar: https://www.drjohnthomas.com