Uterine Fibroid Embolisation
Private Health UHD are uniquely placed and are the only private hospital able to provide this treatment in the area.
What are fibroids?
A fibroid is a benign (non-cancerous) growth of the uterus (womb). They are also called uterine myomas, fibromyomas or leiomyomas. They can vary from pea-sized to the size of a melon. Fibroids can increase in size, decrease in size or even go away with time. They can occur anywhere in the uterus and are named differently depending upon whereabouts in the uterus they grow. Symptoms occur in about 1 in 3 women with fibroids. Symptoms may include:
- Heavy or more painful periods
- Bloating or swelling in the lower abdomen
- Lower back pain
- Bladder or bowel symptoms
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Problems during pregnancy
- Miscarriage or infertility
How common are fibroids?
Approximately 1 in 4 women develop one or more fibroids during their lifetime. They usually develop in women aged 30-50. It is common to have several of various sizes, although some women have just one.
What is uterine fibroid embolisation?
Uterine fibroid embolisation is a minimally invasive method of blocking the arteries that supply blood to the fibroids. The lack of blood supply to the fibroid causes the fibroid to die.
How long will the procedure take?
Every patient’s situation is different, and it is not always easy to predict how complex or how straightforward the procedure will be. Generally, the procedure itself will take between 60 - 120 minutes. You may be in the x-ray department for a short time after your procedure has finished whilst the nursing staff complete routine observations of your blood pressure and pulse.
What happens afterwards?
You will be taken back to your ward on your bed. Nurses on the ward will continue to carry out routine observations, such as taking your pulse and blood pressure, to make sure that there are no untoward effects.
You will generally stay in bed for a few hours after the procedure, but if you feel well enough, you will be able to walk around the ward on the evening following your procedure. Your PCA (pain control pump) and bladder catheter will usually be removed during the morning following your procedure.
Most patients are then discharged during the evening on the day after the procedure. When you are discharged from the hospital, you should arrange for someone to collect you and accompany you home - you should not drive yourself.
