UFE Fibroids: Is it the Right Treatment Option?
Fibroids affect about 77 percent of the females of the childbearing age.
They can cause symptoms like heavy bleeding, painful intercourse, severe pain in the abdomen, or bowel spasms.
These are treated with medications and surgeries.
However, not all women are willing to undergo surgeries.
So, is there an alternative to treat Fibroids with surgeries?
The answer is yes!
Uterine Fibroid Embolization, or UFE, is one such way.
This article explores UFE Fibroids treatment in detail, covering its benefits, use, and shortcomings to help you decide if it is the right option for you.
UFE treatment for Fibroids
UFE for Fibroids is a treatment option that can be used for large Fibroids.
This option is an alternative treatment to surgeries.
It is suitable for women who wish to keep the uterus intact, which is not possible in surgical methods like Hysterectomy.
Uterine Fibroid Embolization is the same process as Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE).
The only difference is that it is specifically used for Fibroids while UAE encompasses treatment other than Fibroids also.
In this non-surgical method, the radiologist makes use of X-rays and scans.
The blood vessels are then blocked to cut off the blood supply from Fibroids to shrink them.
What happens after UFE Fibroids treatment
You must stay at the hospital for a day or two after the treatment.
When you leave the hospital, it is advised to rest for about two weeks before getting back to your daily routine.
In a few weeks, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is conducted to check if UFE was successful.
If the blood supply from the Fibroids is cut off successfully, the symptoms go away as the Fibroids shrink.
When is UFE Fibroids recommended
It is recommended when a woman experiences symptoms like:
- Anemia due to excessive bleeding caused by Fibroids
- Pain in your back or legs due to Fibroids pressing on nerves
- Fullness or pain in your belly
- Enlarged uterus
- Infertility
- Frequent urination
- Constipation or bowel movement issues
- Bloating
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Belly that is larger than normal
Benefits of UFE for Fibroids
UFE is a great treatment option for Fibroids because of its benefits like:
- It can treat severe Fibroids symptoms in 71 to 92 percent women
- The uterus is not removed, so the chances of pregnancy remain
- Less recovery time
- Shorter stay at hospitals
- Cheaper than surgical methods
- Low rate of major complications
- Reduces sizes of Fibroids by 42 percent
- High satisfaction after treatment (>90 percent)
Who should not get UFE
It is not an ideal treatment for women who:
- Active pelvic infection
- Uncorrectable bleeding problems
- Endometrial cancer
- Desire for fertility
Risks and complications
Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is subject to many complications.
Sepsis
Studies have proven Sepsis to be one of the serious UFE complications.
In Sepsis, the body fails to respond appropriately to infection, which is uterine infection in this case.
Uterine Ischemia
UFE causes Uterine Ischemia, which is the blockage of blood flow in the targeted area.
It can cause complications like pain, fever, nausea, and other discomfort.
Uterine Necrosis
Uterine necrosis is a fatal complication of UFE.
It may cause Sepsis or death without timely treatment.
Expulsion of Fibroid tissue
It is a minor UFE complication that involves the discharge of small tissue fragments.
It can cause pain and infection in case of infection, bringing clinical risk to the patient.
Chronic vaginal discharge
Chronic vaginal discharge is associated with UFE as well.
It is caused due to an interaction between a superficial Fibroid and an endometrial cavity.
Treatment failure
During UFE, complications can occur, which involve incomplete embolization or residual viable Fibroid.
A non-targeted uterine Fibroid embolization poses a huge risk of ovarian dysfunction in women as well.
Pregnancy issues
Even though the uterus is not removed in UFE, the chances of pregnancy may be affected.
One of the findings also suggests an increased rate of C-section delivery in women who had undergone UFE.
However, a limited number of studies are available to study such complications.
So, not all women need to deal with fertility issues.
UFE for Fibroids cost
The mean cost of Uterine Fibroid Embolization is $ 2707 (US dollars).
It is far less than the alternative surgical methods like Hysterectomy, which costs $ 5,707 and Myomectomy, which costs $ 5,676 .
So, it is financially more advantageous for patients and hospitals than surgical options.
Conclusion
UFE Fibroids treatment option is an alternative to surgical options.
It is recommended in case of symptoms like heavy periods, frequent urination, pain, and bloating. }
This method is cheaper than surgical procedures, preserves the uterus, and minimizes the time of recovery and hospital stay.
However, it can also cause complications like ovarian dysfunction, chronic vaginal discharge, and pregnancy issues.
So, you must always consult a doctor to analyze risks and complications to decide if this method is suitable for you.
Overall, it is a great option to consider to get relief from Fibroid symptoms without major surgeries and quick recovery.
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