Uterine Artery Embolization

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It is artery in females. It supplies blood to the uterus. It usually arises from the anterior division of the internal iliac artery. It commonly connects with the vaginal artery. Uterine fibroids are the most common abnormal, disorganized growth in tissue or organ usually forms a distinct mass in females. This may affect about 25 percent of white and 50 percent of black women during their reproductive years.
 

Uterine artery embolization:

 

It is a new approach to the treatment of fibroids. Embolization is a minimally invasive resource of blocking the arteries that supply blood to the fibroids. It is a non-surgical treatment alternative that can considerably shrink fibroids and reduce symptoms. It is used to control heavy bleeding after childbirth. Embolization plugs up arteries that supply blood to the fibroids. This reduces the symptoms and allows the uterus to intact and functioning.

The patient will be conscious and there will not be any pain during procedure. After embolization the size of the uterus is reduced about 40 percent. This is because there are many unplugged blood vessels left and the uterus does not die. The patient should not eat and drink anything approximately for 4 to 8 hours before uterine fibroid or artery embolization. The treatment nearly takes 1 to 3 hours. It depends on how long it takes to position the catheter and how easy it is to position the catheter in the arteries in the uterus. After the procedure there will be moderate or severe pelvic pain for 6 to 12 hours. It is quite common.

Risks of uterine artery embolization:

 

Many of the women will not be able to conceive after embolization. There are no proper results about embolization affecting the menstrual cycle. Most of the women after embolization have decreased bleeding with normal menstrual cycle. The women who are near to menopause stopped menstruating after the procedure. The procedure may also cause premature menopause or loss of menstrual cycle in few women. There are also chances of uterus getting very less amount of blood. The risk also includes injuries to the arteries through which the catheters are passes, infection or injury to the uterus, blood clot formation and injury to the ovary.