Uterine fibroids are a common health concern, affecting millions of women in the United States. Traditionally, a hysterectomy has been one of the most effective and popular options to treat these benign growths. Unfortunately, this procedure entails the removal of the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and other surrounding structures.
Uterine fibroid embolization is a minimally invasive procedure utilized to treat uterine fibroids. During Plantation uterine fibroid embolization, your physician will block the blood supply to the fibroids, making them shrink and eventually die. Here are the many benefits of considering a uterine fibroid embolization procedure.
1. Your Uterus Is Spared
With a uterine fibroid embolization procedure (UFE), all the work is performed inside the blood vessels. Other surgical approaches, like a hysterectomy, are more invasive and entail removing the uterus and fibroids. For this reason, after a UFE, you cannot get pregnant. However, the UFE does not involve any removal of the uterus, and other vital reproductive organs like the ovaries, which means your fertility gets preserved.
2. Less Risk of Complications
Any medical procedure bears some level of risk. However, because UFE does not use general anesthesia or patients are entirely unconscious during the procedure, the risk of post-procedure complications like pelvic infection or bleeding is significantly reduced. Thanks to the reduced surgical risk, this procedure could be performed on an outpatient basis, allowing women to return home on the same day as their treatment.
3. No Scarring
A hysterectomy is an invasive procedure, which means you will likely experience scarring on your abdomen or inside the vagina. Although these scars might be small, they might still make you self-conscious about your appearance. However, with uterine fibroid embolization, there is virtually no scarring involved.
4. Quick and Smooth Recovery
Major surgeries for uterine fibroids generally have lengthy recovery times that could last up to a month. However, because there are no belly incisions or blood loss, fibroid treatment with uterine fibroid embolization boasts a significantly shorter recovery time. You may resume light activities almost immediately, or even work. Besides, you will not experience any pain during your recovery.
5. Immediate Relief from Heavy Bleeding During Menstruation
After undergoing a UFE procedure, most patients experience relief from pain and heavy bleeding during menstruation in a day. With time, you will notice that many other uterine fibroid symptoms drastically improve or disappear altogether.
6. Safe Alternative to Surgery
Embolization could be a safe alternative to surgery for some patients. Your provider may suggest a UFE instead of surgery or, in addition to surgery, based on your specific situation.
7. Minimal Side Effects
Uterine fibroid embolization is typically well-tolerated and has reduced side effects. The most prevalent side effect is temporary discomfort or bruising at the catheter insertion site, but these concerns should fade away in hours.
Not every woman with uterine fibroids experiences symptoms. However, those who do experience issues like heavy menstrual flows, pelvic discomfort, pain during intercourse, bloating, and more. If your uterine fibroids hugely affect your life quality, you should consider uterine fibroid embolization to treat these non-cancerous tumors.
An embolization procedure has numerous benefits over traditional surgeries like hysterectomy, including fertility preservation, less downtime, minimal scarring, and more. Talk to your doctor about your concerns to determine your eligibility for a uterine fibroid embolization procedure.