Uterine Artery Embolization for Bleeding or Uterine Fibroid Treatment

For patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids, the only treatment option available used to be surgery, and usually the removal of the uterus. Today women have options, and more and more are choosing a non-surgical treatment that leaves the uterus intact.

Get a second opinion prior to surgery and learn about your options. Interventional Radiologists are able to use a very small catheter inserted in through the femoral artery to permanently block the blood flow to the fibroids, causing them to shrink and reducing the pain and discomfort they cause.

Patients usually stay in hospital overnight. Most women will experience some pain and cramping after the procedure, and during your stay the Interventional Radiologist will be able to prescribe medication to help with both.

After release from hospital, you can resume light activities and can return to normal ones 7-10 days later. Full effect of the embolization of the fibroids may take as long as 6 months, at which point maximum shrinkage of the fibroids will have occurred.

Impact on Pregnancy

Although Uterine Artery Embolization leaves the uterus intact, and indeed some women have gone on to successful pregnancies after this procedure, we do not recommend Uterine Artery Embolization for women with a strong desire to become pregnant. There just isn’t enough research to guarantee a successful pregnancy after having this procedure.

Ask your doctor if Uterine Artery Embolization by VIRNA is a suitable treatment option for you.