Do you know that most women develop fibroids at some point during their childbearing years? Not all these women get treatment for the same because they may not experience symptoms. However, large fibroids tend to cause discomforting symptoms and pain. Coconut Creek, FL nurse practitioner recommends uterine fibroid embolization to eliminate fibroids and give you back a comfortable and pain-free life. Uterine fibroid embolization works by blocking the blood supply to the arteries feeding the fibroids so that they will shrink. Thus, your symptoms improve after treatment. The discussion below will give a basic understanding of why and how the procedure works.
Why Would You Need This Procedure?
This treatment will be because your doctor wants to eliminate uterine fibroids leading to other problems in your reproductive system. Although most fibroids are non-cancerous, they may grow large and start causing uncomfortable symptoms. Your doctor may recommend uterine fibroids embolization if your symptoms include heavy menstrual bleeding, periods lasting more than seven days, and frequent urination. You may also experience pain during sexual intercourse, constipation, bloating, and lower back pain. Such symptoms may interfere with normal life and require uterine fibroid embolization treatment.
Are There Risks To Uterine Fibroid Embolization?
You may experience complications with the procedure, including abnormal bleeding, injury to your uterus, incision site infection, blood clots, loss of menstrual bleeds, and infertility. Blood may also collect under your skin at the incision site after the procedure. On the other hand, you may develop post-embolization syndrome, which causes pelvic pain and cramping, nausea and vomiting, discomfort, and fatigue. Your post-embolization syndrome symptoms may last up to seven days, and you can treat them with anti-inflammatory medications and pain relievers.
What Should You Expect During Treatment?
The procedure will begin with you lying on a table and your doctor inserting an IV into your arm. You may require an antibiotic before the procedure. Next, your doctor will put a catheter into your bladder to drain urine and clean your groin area with an antiseptic. Your doctor will then use a small tube to guide the catheter into the area that needs embolization. You may receive a contrast dye injection to provide visibility of the area needing blocking and an X-ray to show the blood supply. After blocking the blood supply to all fibroids, your doctor will remove the catheter and the small tube and apply compression on the insertion site to stop bleeding.
What Should You Expect As You Recover?
Your doctor will instruct you to keep the incision site dry and clean. You will likely experience aches in your abdomen and pelvic muscles. Pain relievers will help relieve soreness and pain. Your doctor may also recommend limiting movement and avoiding strenuous activity as you recover.
Although a common condition, fibroids may show no symptoms in some women. But if your fibroids cause symptoms you cannot bear, it is time for uterine fibroids embolization. The procedure is minimally invasive, thus offering a chance at a quicker recovery with reduced risk of complications. Uterine fibroids embolization blocks the blood supply to fibroids, so they can begin to shrink and eventually die. After surgery, your uterus will remain intact, so you can conceive if you want children. After a few months, you can return to your doctor to confirm if the treatment succeeded.