Fibroids, also known as leiomyoma, are muscle tumours that are found within the uterine wall. They are usually not cancerous, meaning that they are not always a bother for some people, depending on whether they experience side effects and/or the size of the fibroid.
For others, pain and other symptoms as a result of the fibroids can be difficult to deal with, making fibroid removal a good option. When it comes to fibroid removal, individuals will have a number of choices, including fibroid embolisation and fibroid surgery.
In this blog, we’ll explore the different ways fibroids can be removed. Let’s get to it.
Fibroid Surgery
Fibroid surgery provides two options:
- Myomectomy – removes fibroids without compromising your fertility
- Hysterectomy – permanently cures fibroids by removing the uterus (meaning that you are no longer able to carry children)
The best option for you might depend on various factors such as:
- Size of the fibroids
- Number of fibroids
- Location of fibroids
- Whether you would like to have children in the future
With fibroid surgery, you can expect recovery to take up to 8 weeks or longer.
Fibroid Embolisation
As an alternative to surgery, fibroid embolisation might be a better choice for those who prefer minimally invasive procedures. In particular, this procedure involves injecting tiny particles into arteries that supply the uterus, cutting off the blood flow. This allows the fibroids to shrink over time, relieving symptoms like heavy and/or prolonged periods, pressure on bladder, and more.
Compared to fibroid surgery, this method guarantees quicker recovery times, often with only a single night in the hospital needed. You can expect to return to normal activities within a week.
At Lumina Interventional Radiology, our fibroid embolisation service can help you effectively shrink uterine fibroids in a non-invasive approach that offers the ideal alternative to fibroid surgery. If you are interested in fibroid embolisation, we urge you to first speak with your doctor to confirm whether you would be suitable for fibroid embolisation.
If you are, please feel free to get in touch with the Lumina team to begin discussing your requirements and needs for fibroid removal.
