Locations & Hours | Radiology Services & Procedures | Insurance Info | Policies & Payments Uterine Fibroid Embolization by Dipak Ranparia, M.D., Chief of Interventional Radiology at St. Thomas Hospital Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), also called uterine artery embolization, is a minimally-invasive procedure performed by an Interventional Radiologist to block the blood flow to fibroid tumors. Fibroids are benign growths that develop in the muscular wall of the uterus. They can cause symptoms of heavy, prolonged menstrual periods, severe pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, or a constant urge to urinate or defecate. Fibroids are very common, and they are usually small enough not to cause any problems. African-American women are at a higher risk of developing fibroids of a significant size. Fibroids are usually diagnosed during a gynecologic examination. Imaging should be performed using ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or computed tomography (CT). Treatment options include hormonal therapy, surgical removal of the fibroid tumor or hysterectomy performed by the Gynecologist, or embolization by the Interventional Radiologist. Drug therapy is usually the first step, but this will not cure severe symptoms. Surgical removal of the fibroid tumor is good if there are only a couple of fibroids, and they are on the outer or inner surface of the uterus. Most fibroids, however, are within the muscular wall. Hysterectomy, or removing the entire uterus, is the most common treatment; but this is only an option for those who have completed their childbearing. Recovery from an abdominal hysterectomy can last from one to two months. Some women are candidates for a laparoscopic hysterectomy, which has a considerably shorter recovery time. Embolization is the least invasive procedure other than hormonal therapy. The procedure is performed under conscious sedation. Patients feel drowsy and indifferent to pain. It is performed using a tiny nick in the groin with a needle placed into the artery, much like cardiac catheterization. A small catheter is guided into both uterine arteries on either side of the uterus using x-rays. Tiny spherical particles are deposited into the artery, cutting off the blood supply to the fibroids. This causes the fibroid tumors to shrivel and die. Most patients need to be admitted overnight for pain control. This pain can be severe if the fibroids are extremely large. Patients may experience nausea and fever after the procedure, but they are generally are able to go back to work in one week. Studies show that 85-90% of patients have significant or total relief of heavy bleeding or severe pain. In the remaining patients, a second procedure is usually needed because the fibroid tumors steal blood supply from an artery other than the uterine artery. Embolization of this second artery usually treats the patient. Fibroid embolization is considered a very safe procedure. One possible risk is infertility. Though pregnancy can occur after UFE, it is generally recommended not to have the procedure performed if there is a strong desire to become pregnant. If you are interested in uterine fibroid embolization, your Primary Care Physician or Gynecologist can discuss your options and make referrals to an Interventional Radiologist. For any additional questions, please contact our office at (615) 312-0128.