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Blue Springs, MO —
It’s estimated that as many as half of all women will develop uterine fibroids, and while most are not bothered by them, fibroids can be very painful and interfere with daily activities.
Fibroids are muscular tumors that grow in the wall of a woman’s uterus. These fibroids (myoma) are almost always benign (not cancerous). Fibroids can grow as a single tumor, or there can be many of them. They can be as small as a grape seed or as big as a grapefruit. In unusual cases they can become very large.
Your doctor may discover that you have fibroids during a regular pelvic exam. While most women with fibroids do not have any symptoms, some can be problematic:
n Heavy bleeding (a possible cause of anemia).
n Painful periods.
n Frequent urination.
n Fullness in the lower stomach area.
n Enlargement of the lower abdomen.
n Pain during sex.
n Lower back pain.
n Complications during pregnancy and labor (six times greater risk of cesarean section).
In very rare instances, fibroids can cause reproductive problems, such as infertility. If you have fibroids but do not have any symptoms, you may not need treatment. Fibroids may shrink on their own with the onset of menopause. Your doctor can monitor fibroids to see if they have grown. A fair percentage of women just put up with the symptoms as part of being female. But when they become debilitating and interfere with a woman’s lifestyle, there are treatments available.
Hormonal therapy is often the first step in treating symptoms. Anti-inflammatory medications may also help ease symptoms. Years ago, many women had hysterectomies to remove the uterus, and with it the fibroids. While that’s still an option today, there are many more, less-invasive, options available. Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a popular alternative to hysterectomy. Although the treatment has been used fairly extensively in the past 10 years, many women remain unaware of it.
During UFE, a catheter is placed through an artery to the fibroids. Tiny plastic particles are fed through the catheter, creating a blockage and cutting off the blood supply to the fibroid, ultimately causing it to shrink.
Traditionally, the interventional radiologist gains access to the artery through the groin, but at St. Mary’s Medical Center, we’re having success using a radial artery approach. What has been a tried and true procedure in cardiac surgery for some time is becoming a preferable fibroid treatment as well.
It’s estimated that as many as half of all women will develop uterine fibroids, and while most are not bothered by them, fibroids can be very painful and interfere with daily activities.
Fibroids are muscular tumors that grow in the wall of a woman’s uterus. These fibroids (myoma) are almost always benign (not cancerous). Fibroids can grow as a single tumor, or there can be many of them. They can be as small as a grape seed or as big as a grapefruit. In unusual cases they can become very large.
Your doctor may discover that you have fibroids during a regular pelvic exam. While most women with fibroids do not have any symptoms, some can be problematic:
n Heavy bleeding (a possible cause of anemia).
n Painful periods.
n Frequent urination.
n Fullness in the lower stomach area.
n Enlargement of the lower abdomen.
n Pain during sex.
n Lower back pain.
n Complications during pregnancy and labor (six times greater risk of cesarean section).
In very rare instances, fibroids can cause reproductive problems, such as infertility. If you have fibroids but do not have any symptoms, you may not need treatment. Fibroids may shrink on their own with the onset of menopause. Your doctor can monitor fibroids to see if they have grown. A fair percentage of women just put up with the symptoms as part of being female. But when they become debilitating and interfere with a woman’s lifestyle, there are treatments available.
Hormonal therapy is often the first step in treating symptoms. Anti-inflammatory medications may also help ease symptoms. Years ago, many women had hysterectomies to remove the uterus, and with it the fibroids. While that’s still an option today, there are many more, less-invasive, options available. Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a popular alternative to hysterectomy. Although the treatment has been used fairly extensively in the past 10 years, many women remain unaware of it.
During UFE, a catheter is placed through an artery to the fibroids. Tiny plastic particles are fed through the catheter, creating a blockage and cutting off the blood supply to the fibroid, ultimately causing it to shrink.
Traditionally, the interventional radiologist gains access to the artery through the groin, but at St. Mary’s Medical Center, we’re having success using a radial artery approach. What has been a tried and true procedure in cardiac surgery for some time is becoming a preferable fibroid treatment as well.
The advantages of a radial approach are primarily in convenience to patients. First, the preparation is easy. No shaving and other groin preparation is necessary, which many women find uncomfortable or awkward. Secondly, the radial artery provides a more direct approach to the fibroids, and while it’s a bit more technically challenging for the doctor, it is far more expedient for patients. And finally, going into the artery at the groin requires patients lie still for several hours after completion before they can go home. Patients of the radial procedure can get up right away.
As with most procedures, not every woman is a candidate for UFE. It is not recommended for women who plan to become pregnant. Myomectomy surgery to remove fibroids may be a better option for women who wish to have children after treatment for their fibroids or who wish to keep their uterus for other reasons.
The important thing to remember is that there are treatment options to fibroids. Talk with your doctor about which treatments may be best for you.
