Uterine Fibroid Embolization: What to Expect During and After Your Procedure

If you’re suffering during and between periods, you could have uterine fibroids, properly known in medical terminology as leiomyomas. Fibroids are the reason behind 39% of all US hysterectomies. Uterine fibroid embolization is one of the best ways to relieve severe fibroid symptoms without resorting to major abdominal surgery. 

At Apex Endovascular, located in Fort Collins, Colorado, Dr. Shawn Ahmed can diagnose you with uterine fibroids and determine if you’re a good candidate for uterine fibroid embolization. Here’s what you’ll need to know about both during and after the procedure.

Uterine fibroids 101

Uterine fibroids grow on the walls of your uterus. You can have many small tumors barely bigger than rice grains or several large ones that can grow to the size of a large orange or even big enough to fill your uterus completely. 

Fibroid symptoms and treatments

Fibroids can cause extremely heavy monthly bleeding, between period spotting, frequent urination and/or constipation, and a sense of fullness and pressure in your lower belly. Severe fibroid symptoms can also include stabbing pain in your abdomen, pain during sex, or pain radiating to your legs and back. 

Minor fibroid symptoms might be controllable with birth control or hormone doses, but for some women that’s not enough to control their pain. If this is the case for you, uterine fibroid embolization can help greatly reduce or even eliminate symptoms and keep you pain-free for years.

The uterine fibroid embolization process

Uterine fibroid embolization targets small arteries that are the blood source for your fibroids.  The process includes the following steps:

• IV “twilight” sedation (just to help you relax and disconnect)
• Numbing agent application (applied to the groin area)
• Catheter insertion (into the femoral artery on one side of your groin)
• Guided imaging (to show Dr. Ahmed the catheter moving up and into smaller arteries)
• Delivery of embolic agents (tiny plastic beads that block off blood flow to the fibroids)
• Removal of the catheter (and cleaning and bandaging of the insertion site)

The entire process takes place in our office and only takes about 90 minutes to complete.

Recovery after uterine fibroid embolization

You can expect the following during your recovery from the procedure:

• To have to stay lying down in our office for a couple of hours before going home
• Moderate-to-severe pelvic cramps for 24-48 hours
• Antibiotic and pain medication prescriptions
• Watery or mucus-like discharge for several weeks
• Periods that resume one to three months after the procedure

Dr. Ahmed provides you with a complete set of recovery instructions, letting you know which activities are safe and which are not. You’ll probably be able to return to work and normal life after about two weeks.

Your uterine fibroids will shrink after the embolization of the arteries providing their blood supply, and most women experience relief of fibroid symptoms as early as two to three weeks after the procedure, and at least by the end of three months.

Tired of uterine fibroid symptoms? Call Apex Endovascular at 970-508-8439 to learn more, or book a consultation online today.