Uterine fibroids are a common health issue affecting many women, but they are especially prevalent among women of color. According to recent data, up to 80% of Black women experience fibroids by age 50, yet many are unaware of the condition and the range of treatment options available. Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a non-surgical procedure performed by interventional radiologists that can provide relief without the need for hysterectomy.
UFE involves inserting a catheter through a tiny incision and guiding it using real-time medical imaging to the blood vessels supplying the fibroids. Small particles are then injected to block blood flow, causing the fibroids to shrink over time. Compared to open surgery, UFE typically results in less pain and a shorter recovery period. “Before UFE, my entire life was planned around my fibroids — what I could wear, where I could go—all to manage the symptoms and pain I was experiencing,” said Kenya Green, a patient who has experienced fibroids for decades. “When I asked my OBGYN what my options were, I was told I could go on birth control or that I needed to have a hysterectomy.”
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that can significantly impact menstrual health, causing heavy bleeding, bloating, and severe pain. Many women suffer in silence, often unaware that alternatives to surgery exist. “I was in my early 30s and I was not ready for the changes hysterectomy would bring,” Green said. “I found out about uterine fibroid embolization from a friend who referred me to an interventional radiologist, who was able to help.”
“Fibroids are the number 1 reason why women undergo hysterectomy, which is unnecessary in the significant majority of cases and can be replaced with the much safer, less invasive, nonsurgical UFE procedure,” said John Lipman, MD, an interventional radiologist and founder and medical director of the Atlanta Fibroid Center. “Compared with surgery, UFE is much less invasive, less expensive, has a much shorter recovery time (days versus weeks or months), and is covered by all major insurance plans.”
Awareness and access to fibroid diagnosis and treatment are critical, particularly for women of color. Uterine fibroids are three times more common in Black women and twice as common in Hispanic women, yet 36% of Black women and 22% of Hispanic women mistakenly believe they are not at risk. “It has been shown in multiple medical studies that most women suffering with fibroids do not hear about UFE as a treatment option from their doctor despite full endorsement from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) back in 2008,” Lipman said. “Women are entitled to know all of their treatment options and not just the surgical ones. UFE is an absolute game changer for fibroid sufferers, but the biggest problem is that most patients are unaware of this outstanding procedure and need to obtain a second opinion from an interventional radiologist.”
After undergoing UFE, Green has experienced a marked improvement in her quality of life. “Since I had my UFE, I no longer have to plan my life and my wardrobe around my fibroid symptoms,” Green said. “I am pain free and living a life of abundance, enjoying time with friends and family without worry.” As July is recognized as Uterine Fibroid Awareness Month, all women deserve to know their treatment options. For more information, visit the Radiology Health Equity Coalition Uterine Fibroid Resources page.
