the blood vessel that supplies blood to the fibroid. Small plastic or gel particles are injected into the blood vessel to block it, which causes the fibroid to shrink, the OWH shares.
Myomectomy is currently the procedure recommended for women who may want to have future children.
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Myomectomy vs. UFE
The study looked at data from 950 women, half of whom had UFE and the other half had a myomectomy to treat fibroids. The women were followed for an average of seven years after their procedures.
The procedures appeared to be similarly effective at treating fibroids, the researchers found.
Women who had a myomectomy had higher rates of post-surgery complications, such as the need for a blood transfusion (2.9 percent for the myomectomy group verse 1.1 for the UFE group).
Dr. Bautista-Jia notes that UFE is, therefore, less costly than myomectomy overall.
Is UFE right for you?
Dr. Navid Mootabar, chairman of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, N.Y., reviewed the study’s findings.
“Uterine artery embolization is an excellent alternative to surgical treatment that is possibly underutilized. This study reinforces what we’ve known for a while. The lower rate of complications is well-established,” he says.
Mootabar adds, however, that UFE isn’t for every woman. “With embolization, you are leaving fibroids and the uterus behind. There are a small percentage of fibroids that could be cancerous. We have to ensure they’re not cancerous before recommending uterine artery embolization,” he explains.
So, a woman who has a rapidly growing fibroid may not be a good candidate, because there may be a higher risk of cancer. Mootabar also says he follows up with his UFE patients to be sure the procedure was effective.
He recommends that women bring up UFE when they’re having a discussion with their doctor about their treatment options.