Uterine fibroids are a non-cancerous tumor that develops in the womb, or uterus. Although the condition doesn’t always require treatment, it is common, affecting about half of all women by age 50.
“Uterine fibroids are a benign condition, and it is very unusual for them to harbor anything related to cancer,” explains Jonathan Kessler, M.D., chief of the Division of Interventional Radiology at City of Hope® Cancer Center Duarte. “However, when they grow, they can cause significant symptoms, including pelvic pain and bleeding.”
For patients who experience symptoms related to uterine fibroids, treatment is sometimes recommended. In the past, fibroids were primarily treated surgically with removal of the fibroids or the entire uterus. However, today less invasive treatments are available for women who suffer with this condition. Uterine fibroid embolization, sometimes referred to as UFE for short, is one such treatment.
This article explores the basics on uterine fibroids and how uterine fibroid embolization works, including:
- What are uterine fibroids?
- Are fibroids cancerous?
- What is uterine fibroid embolization?
- The UFE procedure
- UFE vs. myomectomy
- Risks and side effects of uterine fibroid embolization
- Is retreatment common after UFE?
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with uterine fibroids and are looking for an initial appointment or a second opinion, call us 24/7 at (877) 834-8941.
What Are Uterine Fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are tumors made up of muscle tissue. They grow inside a woman’s womb, or uterus. Uterine fibroids are usually categorized based on where or how they grow within the womb.
- Submucosal uterine fibroids grow in the tissue lining the inside of the womb.
- Subserosal uterine fibroids grow in the tissue lining the outside of the womb.
- Myometrial uterine fibroids grow in the muscle tissue inside the womb.
- Pedunculated uterine fibroids grow on a long stalk of tissue, either inside or outside the womb.
Many women with uterine fibroids experience no symptoms. However, those who do have symptoms may experience:
- Longer periods with heavier bleeding
- Heavy bleeding between periods, sometimes with blood clots
- Pain in the pelvic region or pain during sex
- The need to urinate often
Are Fibroids Cancerous?
Uterine fibroids are almost always benign, meaning they’re not cancerous. It’s also extremely rare for a uterine fibroid to become cancerous, and research suggests that uterine fibroids do not increase a woman’s risk of cancer.
What Is Uterine Fibroid Embolization?
For a tumor to keep growing, it needs access to the body’s blood supply. Embolization is the term for cutting off the blood supply to a tumor by creating an artificial barrier or blood clot (the technical term for a blood clot is an “embolus”).
Uterine fibroid embolization, or UFE, is a procedure that cuts off blood to a uterine fibroid. It does so by delivering a substance that creates a blood clot through a catheter inserted into a blood vessel. UFE can be an effective and much less invasive alternative to myomectomy, which is an open surgery used to remove uterine fibroids.
The UFE Procedure
Before uterine fibroid embolization, women usually undergo tests to ensure there are no signs of cancer or other uterine condition. They also discuss their medical history and health goals to ensure that UFE is an appropriate treatment option for them.
“Screening for uterine cancer is a routine part of the workup prior to uterine fibroid embolization,” Dr. Kessler says. “We use imaging to ensure there are no concerning symptoms or signs, but most typical uterine cancers don’t look like fibroids at all.”
Uterine fibroid embolization is performed under moderate anesthesia. During the procedure:
- A thin, narrow tube called a catheter is inserted into an artery, usually in the leg or wrist.
- Doctors use X-ray or other imaging technologies to guide the catheter to the blood vessels that are delivering blood to the uterine fibroids.
- The catheter delivers tiny particles that stop the blood supply to the fibroids, and the catheter is removed.
After the procedure, the uterine fibroids begin to shrink in size over the following weeks and months. Because it’s a minimally invasive procedure, most patients recover quickly and have no visible scars.
UFE vs. Myomectomy
Another common treatment option for uterine fibroids is myomectomy, which is a traditional open surgery to remove fibroid tumors. Doctors may recommend myomectomy for some patients, including women with a higher-than-average risk of developing certain gynecologic cancers.
“Surgical treatments for uterine fibroids are more invasive,” says Dr. Kessler, who performs uterine fibroid embolizations in the Los Angeles area. “While surgical removal of the fibroids can resolve the symptoms, it may result in longer recovery times and higher surgical risks.”
The advantages of UFE include a faster recovery time, no need for a hospital stay and a less invasive procedure overall. Some studies have found that UFE has an 85% effectiveness rate, while others have suggested that UFE may result in fewer complications than myomectomy.
| Uterine fibroid embolization | Myomectomy/Hysterectomy | |
|---|---|---|
| Anesthesia | Local | General |
| Location of procedure | Outpatient | Inpatient |
| Hospitalization time | Usually leave the same day | 1-3 days |
| Procedure time | About 1 hour | 1-4 hours |
| Scar size | No scar | 1-3 inches |
| Recovery time | Up to 2 weeks | Up to 6 weeks |
Risks and Side Effects of Uterine Fibroid Embolization
In general, uterine fibroid embolization is a highly safe and effective option for treating fibroids. But like any medical procedure, some side effects are associated with UFE. Immediately after the procedure, some women may experience:
- Pain in the lower abdomen
- Post-embolization syndrome, characterized by malaise, body aches and low-grade fever
- Vaginal discharge that includes fibroid tissue
Although long-term or severe side effects of UFE are rare, some studies have reported:
- Infection
- Blood clots that can cause damage to different areas of the body
Is Retreatment Common After UFE?
You may never need treatment again following a UFE procedure. Fibroids also tend to shrink in size naturally as women enter perimenopause.
“It’s uncommon for uterine fibroids to need retreatment after a fibroid embolization,” Dr. Kessler says. “This means that the vast majority of women will need no further treatment for their fibroids after UFE.”
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with uterine fibroids and are looking for an initial appointment or a second opinion, call us 24/7 at (877) 834-8941.