Fibroid cysts are common, non-cancerous growths in or on the walls of the uterus. Between 20 and 40 percent of women age 35 and older have this condition.

When faced with fibroids, you may suffer from symptoms including:

  • Anemia
  • Bloated abdomen
  • Heavy bleeding during your period
  • Leg pain
  • Painful intercourse
  • Pelvic discomfort
  • Pressure on other organs

Learn more about treatment

If you suspect that you have fibroids, please see your physician. You shouldn’t have to live in pain. A typical pelvic exam or ultrasound can confirm the diagnosis.

You might’ve read online that getting a hysterectomy is the most common treatment for fibroids. But don’t panic. At SIH, our Interventional radiologists use an image-guided procedure to offer a safe, non-surgical treatment for uterine fibroid cysts. Just because you have a fibroid diagnosis, it doesn’t mean you have to get a hysterectomy.

  • Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE): Through a small incision (less than ¼ inch) into an artery in your leg, an Interventional radiologist guides a tube up to the uterine artery, applying tiny particles to block the blood flow to the fibroids. This causes them to shrink and symptoms to subside. This minimally-invasive procedure is performed using conscious sedation and doesn’t require general anesthesia. The result is a shorter hospital stay, fewer complications and your ability to return to normal activity within seven to ten days.

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