Tag: UFE

Categories
Fibroids

A Good Candidate for UFE

Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is not only effective, but it has a much shorter recovery period than other treatment methods.

There is great news if you are a good candidate for Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE).

UFE has an excellent track record regarding its effectiveness in relieving fibroid symptoms. It also has a faster recovery time than more invasive procedures like a hysterectomy and a myomectomy.

In fact, based on the results of a meta-analysis of several studies, it is estimated that on average 92% of women treated with Uterine Fibroid Embolization, experience a decrease in fibroid symptoms.

Wow. That’s a lot of women.

So you might be asking yourself, ” Am I a good candidate for UFE?”

That’s a great question and one that can best be answered by scheduling a consultation to find out more about UFE and if it can benefit you.

However, in the meantime, we will try and answer it in a general way here.

Most women with symptomatic fibroids are good candidates for Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) procedure. This includes women who experience any of the following fibroid symptoms:

  • Heavy Bleeding – This may be characterized by prolonged periods, very heavy bleeding, or irregular bleeding.
  • Pain – Pain can arise from the position of the fibroids within the uterus as well as compression on the other organs in the area. It can also be related to fibroid size.
  • Pressure Symptoms – If a fibroid pushes up against another organ, such as the bladder, it can cause problems, such as frequent urination. A large fibroid can also push against the rectum, creating problems with having a bowel movement.

So who isn’t a good candidate for UFE?

As with any medical procedure, there are contraindications or reasons that the UFE procedure may not be right for everyone.

Sometimes the reasons are absolute, meaning that under no circumstances should the procedure be performed. An example of an absolute contraindication to UFE is pregnancy.

It is not advisable to x-ray a pregnant uterus or to administer anything that will block the flow of blood to the uterus while a woman is pregnant. Therefore it’s important to share with your doctor if you are pregnant or are thinking of becoming pregnant anytime soon, as this could affect the time frame in which UFE can be performed.

Other reasons that someone might not be a candidate for UFE are:

  • Chronic Kidney Disease – The contrast dye can be harmful to someone with poorly functioning kidneys. The decision to give contrast dye to a person with chronic kidney disease is made on an individual basis.
  • Uncertain Pelvic Mass – If there is any question if the mass is something other than a fibroid, then UFE is not the appropriate procedure.
  • Any Active Infection – Any procedure not related to treating the infection should be avoided, as the infection could worsen or spread. It may be possible to reconsider UFE after the infection has resolved.
  • Asymptomatic Fibroids – UFE should not be performed unless the fibroids are causing symptoms that would indicate surgery.

When it comes to determining if someone is a good candidate for UFE it really comes down to working with a medical expert to access your particular fibroid symptoms and all other variables at play.

An excellent way to begin this process is to schedule a consultation by calling MidAtlantic Vascular and Interventional at 301-622-5360 today.

 

Categories
Fibroids

UFE Consultation

Setting up a consultation to see if UFE can help you, is an excellent first step towards better health and wellness.

It’s a new year, and why not make it a year without the pain and discomfort that comes with having uterine fibroids by setting up a UFE consultation?

Sound good?

Great!

So let’s get started by scheduling your initial consultation here at MidAtlantic Vascular and Interventional to determine the treatment method that would be best for you.

During this consultation, our expert staff will go over your full medical history.

One way to speed up this process is to arrive early to fill out your medical history form completely. In doing so, please be sure to write down all medications you are taking.

Once you’ve completed the paperwork, you will meet with our nurse practitioner or physician assistant who will complete your medical history and conduct a basic physical examination as well as check your vitals.

Following this, you will meet with our expert interventional radiologist to discuss the procedure and determine if you could be a good candidate for uterine fibroid embolization.

During the consultation with the doctor, he will take the time to learn more about your specific situation and symptoms in order to deliver the best care possible.

If it is decided that you could be a good candidate for Uterine Fibroid Embolization, the next step will be to order a pelvic MRI.

The pelvic MRI imaging process will assess in more detail the appearance, location, size, and vascularity of your fibroids- all of which can help determine if uterine fibroid embolization is right for you.

Once the MRI is reviewed the doctor will be able to determine if you could benefit from UFE.

If UFE is right for you, the next step will be to schedule the procedure, putting your well on your way to living a life free of the painful and life-interrupting symptoms of uterine fibroids.

To schedule your initial consultation please call us at 301-622-5360.

While many women are definite candidates for UFE, others may fall somewhere in the middle, or in some cases might benefit from another type of fibroid treatment.

In our next article, we will take a look at what makes for a good candidate for UFE.

Categories
Fibroids

The Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids: Finding Relief

Though most women with fibroids have fibroids that are asymptomatic, it is estimated that approximately 30% of women with fibroids will experience severe symptoms.

Uterine fibroids are a common type of benign tumor characterized by the overgrowth of connective or smooth muscle tissue in the uterus.

These tumors, which affect women mainly during their reproductive years,  are diagnosed in up to 70% of white women and more than 80% of women of African ancestry during their lifetime.

Though most women with fibroids have fibroids that are asymptomatic, it is estimated that approximately 30% of women with fibroids will experience severe symptoms which may require medication, surgery, or interventional radiology procedures, such as Uterine Fibroid Embolization.

In our last article, we took a look at clinical data on the effect that Uterine Fibroid Embolization can have on relieving the common fibroid symptom of heavy bleeding, also known as menorrhagia.

We learned that according to medical records analyzed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM), an estimated 26 million women between 15 and 50 have uterine fibroids. And of those, nearly 15 million women experience associated symptoms or linked health-related problems, such as heavy menstrual bleeding.

Based on the results of several studies and meta-analyses of studies, there is plenty of evidence to support that as many as 92% of women treated with Uterine Fibroid Embolization, experience a decrease in the symptom of heavy bleeding.

In fact, one rather large study found that 86% of patients experienced relief from fibroid-related heavy bleeding merely 3 months after the UFE procedure. While 92% experienced relief from heavy bleeding at 12 months.

This same study, which was published in The Journal of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, also found that the bulk of fibroid symptoms was controlled in 64% of patients at 3 months and 92% at 12 months.

So what are the bulk of fibroid symptoms? And, what does the research say regarding the effect that Uterine Fibroid Embolization has on treating these?

Though not all women with fibroids experience symptoms, for those that do,  the most common signs and symptoms of uterine fibroids include:

– Menstrual pelvic pain/cramping
– Heavy menstrual bleeding
– Lower back pain
– Fatigue/weariness/anemia
– Constipation/bloating/diarrhea
– Irregular periods
– Passage of clots
– Spotting/bleeding between periods
– Difficulty having a bowel movement
– General abdominal pain
– Non-menstrual pelvic pain/cramping
– Pain during sex
– Pelvic pressure
– Infertility

While of course fibroid symptoms vary from woman to woman, there is evidence to show that some symptoms are more common than others.

One study that looked at the prevalence of fibroid symptoms was published in 2017,  in The International Journal of Women’s Health.

This prestigious medical journal published the results of a cross-sectional survey of 59,411 women aged 18–54 years in the US from August 6, 2012, through September 14, 2012, that have a diagnosis of uterine fibroids.

What they found regarding the distribution of uterine fibroid-related symptoms experienced in these women with uterine fibroids was as follows:

Menstrual pelvic pain/cramping:
2,277, which is 74.9%

Heavy menstrual bleeding:
2,147 which is 73.4%

Lower back pain:
2,090 which is 68.4%

Fatigue/weariness/anemia:
2,069 which is 68.3%

Constipation/bloating/diarrhea:
1,859 which is 63.3%

Irregular periods:
1,698 which is 57.8%

Passage of clots:
1,690 which is 56.9%

Spotting/bleeding between periods:
1,342 which is 45.0

Difficulty having a bowel movement:
1,140 which is 38.9%

General abdominal pain:
1,019 which is 35.0%

Non-menstrual pelvic pain/cramping:
984 which is 33.2%

Pain during sex:
851 which is 29.3%

Pelvic pressure:
654 which is 22.4%

Infertility:
384 which is 12.0%

We already know based on the research results published in our previous article, that UFE is very effective in treating the symptoms of heavy menstrual bleeding. But how well does it help in the relief of these other symptoms?

Over the next few weeks, we will take a look at the effect that Uterine Fibroid Embolization can have on reliving some of these troublesome symptoms of uterine fibroids.

In the meantime, if you would like to learn more about Uterine Fibroid Embolization, or to find out if this procedure could benefit you, please give us a call and set up your consultation today.

Categories
Fibroids

UFE: An Alternative to Surgery

Uterine Fibroid Embolization is a very effective, minimally-invasive procedure to remove uterine fibroids. UFE also has a shorter recovery.

Uterine Fibroid Embolization is a very effective, minimally-invasive procedure to remove uterine fibroids. It can also be an alternative to a major surgery such as a hysterectomy or a myomectomy, and has a much shorter recovery time. 

Unlike major surgery to remove fibroids which can require a few nights in the hospital and several weeks or even months to fully recover- UFE is an outpatient procedure, with a much shorter recovery time.

During UFE, a tiny catheter is inserted through a blood vessel in the leg or wrist, which is then guided to the blood vessels that feed the fibroids. Once it reaches that point, small particles are injected into the vessel to block the artery and cut off the blood flow to the fibroids.  Then, following the procedure, the patient will return to their home, where over the next few weeks and months, the fibroids will gradually shrink.

One of the many benefits of Uterine Fibroid Embolization is that it targets all fibroids in the uterus. This makes it an excellent treatment option for individuals with only a few fibroids as well as those who have many fibroids, regardless of fibroid size.

In fact, uterine fibroid embolization is so effective that most individuals who undergo the procedure have a dramatic improvement in their symptoms that is experienced when they return to their normal activities a mere 8 to 10 days after the treatment.

So what does it feel like? Does it hurt?

Good question, and we’ll do our best to answer that.

The UFE procedure itself is not painful, however light sedation medications will be administered through an IV in order to prevent any discomfort.  Some women report experiencing a feeling in their pelvis similar to menstrual cramping or heaviness. This is completely normal and is due to the decreased blood supply to the uterus.

Following the procedure, it is also normal to experience low energy, intermittent nausea, and possibly fever- as a result of the dying fibroid tissue.

These symptoms typically last a few days at most, and gradually decrease in severity. Most women report that by the fourth or fifth day following the procedure, they feel back to normal, while some might have a few more days of cramping. Fortunately, most of this discomfort can be easily ameliorated with the help of over-the-counter pain medication.

Since UFE is an outpatient procedure, it’s important to have an area in your home where you can relax and heal after.

You may wish to set up your bed with extra pillows, and your favorite blanket, and if there’s a tv in your relaxation location, having the remote control nearby can be helpful as well.

While resting at home, some cramping can be expected in the lower abdominal region for about 24 hours but will subside quickly. However, most physicians do recommend that patients plan to stay home or at least limit their activities for at least one week following uterine fibroid embolization.

Other restrictions that your doctor may ask you to follow are:

– No bathing for 2 weeks. Shower as normal.

– No tampons for at least one full cycle.

– Abstain from sex for 2 weeks.

– No heavy lifting until your strength fully returns.

– Flights and travel are not recommended for at least 2 weeks.

– Refrain from taking aspirin for at least the first week.

Though recovery times may vary, most patients can return to all normal activities after 2 weeks. Even better, they can expect to experience significant improvements in their pre-op fibroid symptoms, over the course of one to three months. This means no more heavy periods, pelvic pain and pressure, urinary incontinence, or pain during sexual intercourse.

In our next article, we will take a look at the results of the embolization, and the experience and time it usually takes for the fibroids to shrink.

In the meantime, if you are considering Uterine Fibroid Embolization treatment for uterine fibroids, or have any questions about the UFE procedure, please call us at 301-622-5360 and request an appointment at MidAtlantic Vascular and Interventional today!