Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) in Brooklyn, NY and Bronx, NY

While fibroids are almost always non-cancerous tumors, the pain and side effects they cause can devastate many women. You don’t have to suffer from painful uterine fibroids that disrupt your life. In New York City, you have access to a top fibroid expert in Dr. George Bolotin. His Astra Fibroid Treatment Specialists provide you with access to the latest technology to treat fibroids painlessly and thoroughly with a procedure called uterine fibroid embolization or UFE. UFE is safe and effective, even if you’re pregnant. Call today to schedule a consultation for this amazing treatment option.

What Is Uterine Fibroid Embolization?

Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a minimally invasive, outpatient treatment procedure commonly used to treat uterine fibroids. An endovascular procedure, it involves the injection of embolic agents into the arteries that supply fibroids with blood. Once the blood supply stops, the fibroids starve and die.

UFE is one of the more advanced fibroid treatments available after your diagnosis. The non-surgical procedure offers a safer, faster and more effective treatment for uterine growths, while also alleviating your fibroid symptoms. With this treatment, you preserve your uterus and avoid the complications of surgery.

After a diagnosis of fibroids, Dr. George Bolotin and the team at the Brooklyn and Bronx-based practice of Astra Fibroid Treatment Specialists use advanced medical technology to treat your condition. Among the cutting-edge medical procedures offered at these fibroids, the center is artery embolization for uterine fibroids, most commonly referred to as UFE.

Why Is Uterine Fibroid Embolization Necessary?

Fibroids can have a devastating effect on your life, and it’s necessary to find the most effective treatment early before you suffer any further complications such as fertility problems. Common side effects and symptoms of fibroids include:

• Heavy periods
• Having to urinate frequently
• Pelvic pain
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Painful menstrual cramps
• Weight gain
• Vaginal bleeding
• Fibroid degeneration
• Risk of infertility
• Pregnancy complications

All or some of these symptoms can affect both your physical and emotional well-being. Your doctor recommends artery embolization for uterine fibroids because of its effectiveness and because it allows you to avoid the complications that come with surgery. Failure to treat uterine fibroids can lead to:

• Miscarriage
• Anemia
• Obesity
• Bladder and kidney complications
• Undue pain and suffering

How Is Fibroid Embolization Performed?

The uterine fibroid embolization procedure takes 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the number of fibroids being treated. Steps typically involved in the treatment include:

• Taking a family history and history of your symptoms
• A physical exam to determine the overall condition of your uterus
• Imaging tests, such as MRI or fibroid ultrasound to verify the diagnosis
• Determination of the type and condition of your fibroids: whether they’re subserosal fibroids,  intramural fibroids or submucosal fibroids
• Live fibroid mapping that locates your fibroids and their blood supply
• Incision into your upper thigh and insertion of a tiny catheter
• Using a continuous x-ray image, called a fluoroscopy, to guide the catheter into the uterine artery
• Injection of small embolic material into the artery to block the supply of blood to the fibroids, after which the tumors eventually shrink, starve and die
• Removal of the catheter with no damage to other internal organs
• UFE recovery, starting with close observation to determine the effectiveness of the procedure

Uterine fibroid embolization is an alternative to traditional fibroid removal surgeries. There’s no risk of damage to the other internal organs, as Dr. Bolotin relies on advanced live imaging technology to identify the arteries. A successful procedure only affects the fibroids. This is one of the most effective fibroid treatments at a fibroids center.

What Are the Benefits of Uterine Fibroid Embolization?

The top UFE benefits include:

• No harm done to your uterus
• Simultaneous treatment of multiple fibroids
• No residual scarring of your skin
• Fibroids die naturally without the need for drugs or chemicals
• Elimination of fibroid-related symptoms, such as bleeding, pain, weight gain and risk of infertility
• Quick recovery time of about two weeks, which is faster than traditional surgeries such as myomectomy and hysterectomy
• UFE risks  are minimal, compared to myomectomy and hysterectomy
• No need for general anesthesia

What Are the Alternatives to UFE?

Before fibroid embolization, doctors recommended some alternative fibroid treatment approaches, such as:

• Passive observation of the uterine growths
• Hormone treatments
• Non-surgical approaches, such as myolysis, cryomyolysis and endometrial ablation
• Pain-relieving medications, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Lifestyle changes to reduce the risks of future fibroid growth

A hysterectomy, which involves removing your entire uterus, can feel devastating, especially if you’re of childbearing age. Luckily, fibroids specialists like Dr. Bolotin now use advanced technologies, such as uterine fibroid embolization, for enhanced safety, increased success rates and fertility protection.

At the state-of-the-art facility of the Astra Fibroid Treatment Specialists in Brooklyn and Bronx, Dr. Bolotin leverages the latest medical research and technologies in fibroids treatment. Contact these fibroids specialists for a review and personalized treatment, based on your diagnosis.