Uterine Fibroid Embolization

Uterine fibroids are very common benign tumors that affect about 40 percent of all women. Most of the time, women have these tumors without even knowing it. However, a significant percentage of women suffer adverse effects from fibroids, including:

• Infertility
• Excessive vaginal bleeding
• Pain
• Cramping
• “Bulk symptoms," such as urinary problems caused by a fibroid pressing on the bladder

Interventional radiologists at Adventist Health Glendale can perform uterine artery embolization, a minimally invasive procedure to remove these fibroid tumors from the uterus. This technique allows a woman to keep her uterus, eliminates the need for general anesthesia and avoids much of the pain and discomfort of traditional surgery.

Because the procedure doesn't require anesthesia or the long incision of traditional surgery, most patients can go home after only an overnight stay. Symptoms of fibroid tumors rarely reappear following uterine artery embolization.

To learn if you are a candidate for this procedure, be sure to talk with your personal physician. For a free referral to an Adventist Health Glendale physician, call (818) 409-8000.