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Uterine Fibroids
What are uterine fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths that reside in the uterus. These often appear during childbearing years and can range in size from microscopic to large, bulky masses. Uterine fibroids may present as a single fibroid, or multiple. According to the Office on Women’s Health, approximately 20-80 percent of women will develop uterine fibroids by the time they are 50 years old.
While fibroids are not associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer, they may lead to heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, frequent urination, constipation or backaches. Many women have uterine fibroids at some point during their lives, but may not realize it, as some individuals experience no symptoms at all.
Have you noticed any of the following symptoms?
Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
Periods Lasting More Than A Week
Pelvic Pain
Frequent Urination
IF YOU HAVE UTERINE FIBROIDS,YOU HAVE OPTIONS...
When many women find out that they have uterine fibroids, they think that the only option they have is to get a hysterectomy or deal with them. At South Atlanta Vascular Institute, we specialize in Uterine Fibroid Embolizations which is a minimally invasive procedure done in our office. Doesn’t that sound great? There is no major surgery, as a matter of fact, the puncture is so small that we dress it with a small bandage. Our team is here to listen and answer any questions you have regarding your uterine fibroids to help you get back to doing what you love.
Uterine Fibroid Treatments
Uterine fibroids can cause a number of symptoms, including prolonged pelvic pain, heavy or painful periods, spotting between periods, difficulty emptying the bladder and even anemia. However, many women with uterine fibroids have no symptoms at all. In this case, treatment may not be necessary, though regular exams to monitor fibroid growth is recommended.
Uterine fibroid treatments vary depending on the severity of symptoms, quantity, location and the size of the fibroids. For women who experience mild symptoms relating to uterine fibroids, medication may be prescribed to help alleviate symptoms. Birth control medications are commonly used to help control symptoms as they do not encourage fibroid growth and can decrease heavy bleeding. Your healthcare provider may recommend low dose birth control pills, a progesterone-like injection such as Depo-Provera, or an intrauterine device (IUD). Another medication that provides short term relief is called gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa), with the most commonly prescribed being Lupron. This type of medication can be given by injection, implanted or as a nasal spray and is used to help shrink uterine fibroids. While most women can tolerate GnRHa medication well, it can come with side effects, including bone thinning, so it is often prescribed for six months or less. Sometimes GnRHa are used prior to surgery to help shrink fibroids before removal.
For more severe symptoms, the best uterine fibroid treatment may be surgery. There are several different surgery options that include:
Myomectomy– This is a major surgery, but may be performed with laparoscopy, depending on the location and size of the fibroids. This surgery removes uterine fibroids while leaving healthy uterine tissue intact.
Hysterectomy– The most invasive procedure, hysterectomy completely removes the uterus. This is a major surgery that involves extensive cutting of the abdomen. The downtime involved is a large deterrent for most women, as it can take several weeks before patients can resume regular activities.
Myolysis– Freezing or an electric current is used via a needle inserted into the fibroid to shrink it on contact.
Endometrial ablation– This procedure involves destroying the lining of the uterus with wire loops, laser, freezing, electrical current or other methods. Women cannot have children after this treatment.
Uterine Fibroid Embolization– A minimally invasive procedure that targets the blood vessels supplying blood to the fibroid. Small gel particles are injected via a thin tube to block blood flow to the fibroid, causing it to shrink and die off. Fibroids are unlikely to grow back and the risk of complications are quite low.
THE ANSWER YOU HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR...
WHY SHOULD I CHOOSE SAVI?
MULTI-SPECIALTY PRACTICE – Our practice consists of both vascular interventionalists and vascular surgeons to allow us to completely treat our patients when it comes to vascular care.
OUTPATIENT SURGERY CENTER – Our facility is equipped with an outpatient surgery center that allows us to perform minimally invasive procedures in office.
ACR ACCREDITED ULTRASOUND FACILITY – We are proud to say that our office is an accredited ultrasound facility through the American College of Radiology
OUR #SAVISTAFF – From the time you walk in the door to the time you leave, our team is dedicated to making your experience here the absolute best.
How Uterine Fibroid Embolization Works
Compared to other uterine fibroid procedures, uterine fibroid embolization is the safest, least invasive option currently available. Uterine fibroid embolization allows patients a faster recovery as stitches or incision is not involved, only a small puncture wound typically covered with a bandage. Unlike other surgery options, the risk of complications or bleeding is far lower with uterine fibroid embolization. The success rate for uterine fibroid embolization is 85%, according to the National Institutes of Health. Most patients who undergo uterine fibroid embolization experience dramatic decrease in the size of their fibroids and near immediate relief from symptoms.
We specialize in Uterine Fibroid Embolization
At South Atlanta Vascular Institute, we firmly believe that uterine fibroid embolization is the most effective, least invasive procedure to treat fibroids. Our practice specializes in uterine fibroid embolization, because it is a minimally invasive procedure with exceptional outcomes. Uterine fibroid embolization shrinks fibroids by blocking arteries leading to the uterus by utilizing a small puncture wound in the skin. If you are looking to treat fibroids in the least invasive way possible, uterine fibroid embolization may be right for you.
Our practice is equipped with an outpatient surgery center that allows us to perform uterine fibroid embolization in office. The day of your procedure, you will likely be given a sedative and antibiotic to safeguard against infection. Only a tiny needle puncture in the skin is necessary for an embolization. The patient and doctor will determine the location of this puncture, but it is typically near the groin, bikini line or on the wrist. Once the puncture location is determined, local anesthetic is applied. A needle, similar to that used in a blood draw, is inserted. The needle is then replaced by a small plastic tubing that injects dye into the bloodstream. Once the dye is injected, an x-ray will indicate the path of the blood flow and artery supplying blood to the uterus. When the artery has been identified as flowing to the uterus and fibroids, small particles of gelatin are injected. These medical grade particles work to block the flow of oxygen and blood to the uterus. While the blockage is usually only temporary, the lack of blood flow effectively “kills” the fibroids. The entire procedure from beginning to end takes approximately 60 minutes.
Following uterine fibroid embolization, it is common to experience some pelvic cramping that may last a few days. If the procedure was performed via wrist, you’ll be able to stand and walk immediately. If the uterine fibroid embolization was performed via the groin or bikini line, you will be able to walk within a few hours. Most patients go home and rest for a day or two before resuming normal activities. Pain medication may be given to treat cramping. In the days following uterine fibroid embolization, you may feel tired but any cramping or pain should subside relatively quickly.