Uterine fibroids are common, but the symptoms they cause (heavy periods, pelvic pain, pressure, backaches, and urinary frequency) don’t have to be a normal part of your life. Many women are told surgery is their only option, but that doesn’t necessarily have to be your future.
Today, there are effective, minimally invasive treatments that provide real relief without major downtime, and you don’t have to look far to find them. You have options right here in Fresno, California.
Here at Fresno Fibroid Center, our team, Dr. Benjamin Pruett, Dr. Sean Tower, and Brian Ng, specializes in uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), a nonsurgical option that shrinks fibroids and restores your quality of life.
Here’s your guide to understanding how UFE works and why more women are choosing it.
UFE is a minimally invasive, image-guided procedure that cuts off blood flow to your fibroids, causing them to shrink naturally over time. We insert a tiny catheter through a pinhole-sized opening in your wrist, and deliver microscopic particles into the vessels feeding the fibroids. There are no stitches, no large incisions, and no need for removing the uterus.
UFE offers significant advantages compared to traditional surgery. Many women appreciate that it provides:
These benefits make UFE an excellent alternative to hysterectomy or myomectomy, especially for women seeking effective treatment with minimal disruption to their daily lives.
Unlike hysterectomy, which removes the entire uterus, or myomectomy, which surgically extracts fibroids, UFE targets fibroids from the inside out. It treats multiple fibroids simultaneously and provides long-lasting symptom relief without the risks of major surgery.
Risks of surgery include:
Not only do minimally invasive treatments come with fewer and less severe risks, but they also have dramatically shorter recovery timelines. For example, hysterectomies can come with a six-week recovery and permanently end your fertility. This is understandably a far less desirable option if you still want to grow your family.
In other words, for women looking for relief without extended downtime or the risks of traditional open surgery, UFE often becomes the preferred option.
Before your treatment, Drs. Behzadi, Pruett, Tower, or Ng meet with you to discuss your symptoms, review your medical history, and use imaging tests (such as ultrasounds) to confirm the type and number of fibroids. The process also helps rule out other conditions, such as adenomyosis.
Once fibroids are confirmed as the source of your symptoms, we walk you through your treatment options and explain how UFE works.
During your UFE procedure, Dr. Behzadi, Dr. Ng, Dr. Pruett, or Dr. Tower uses advanced trans-radial access, which allows your treatment to be performed through the radial artery in your left wrist rather than the groin.
This state-of-the-art technique results in fewer complications, less discomfort, and a smoother experience.
Once you’re comfortably sedated, your Fresno Fibroid Center doctor guides a tiny catheter to the arteries supplying your fibroids and releases microscopic particles that block their blood flow.
Because trans-radial access is so gentle on your body, most women can sit upright or even walk immediately afterward and enjoy a faster, more comfortable recovery.
Afterward, it’s normal to experience cramping or fatigue for a few days. Most people feel well enough to resume work or daily activities within about a week. Over the following weeks and months, fibroids shrink, and your symptoms should steadily improve.
You may be an excellent candidate if you:
A full evaluation will determine whether UFE is the right fit for your health goals and long-term comfort. If you haven’t been happy with previous fibroid management plans or have been told that “surgery is the only answer,” don’t hesitate to seek a second (or third!) opinion.
Contact us at Fresno Fibroid Center. Call 559-216-0746 or use our online scheduling system today.
