Uterine Fibroids are tumors or growths, muscle cells and other tissues that grow within the wall of the uterus. Fibroids are almost always benign (non-cancerous). Fibroids can grow as a single growth or in clusters. Their size can very from small, to even a grapefruit, or eight inches across or larger.
Who gets Fibroids?
Most of the time, fibroids grow in women of childbearing age.
Women who have given birth appear to be at a lower risk for fibroids.
Women who are overweight or obese also are at a slightly higher risk for fibroids than women who are not overweight.
African American women tend to get fibroids at a younger age than do other women.
African American women are more likely to get them than women of other racial groups.
Symptoms
feeling of fullness in the pelvic area (lower abdomen)
pain during sex
heavy bleeding or painful periods
urinating often
lower back pain
bleeding between periods
reproductive problems, having more than one miscarriage, such as infertility, or having early onset of labor during pregnancy
Uterine Fibroid Embolization
A minimally invasive procedure that is performed by a Radiologists. The Radiologist makes a tiny nick in the skin in the groin and inserts a catheter into the femoral artery. Using real time image, the radiologist guides the catheter through the artery and then release tiny particles into the uterine arteries that supply blood to the fibroid tumor. This blocks the blood flow to the fibroid tumor and causes it to shrink and die.
