Uterine Fibroids 101

UTERINE FIBROIDS - 101– y UNDERSTANDING UTERINE FIBROIDS Non-cancerous growths in the uterus Not associated with increased cancer risk D 1 in 3 women and 3 in 4 African American women get them Vary in size from microscopic to large enough to distort uterus Cause unknown: genetics, hormones, and chemicals are all potential triggers COULD YOU HAVE UTERINE FIBROIDS? SYMPTOMS Heavy/prolonged periods Pelvic pain Frequent urination Constipation Backaches/leg pains Painful intercourse Sometimes no symptoms FIBROID RISK FACTORS Family history No pregnancies Oral Obesity contraceptive use BEYOND THE HYSTERECTOMY: UFE Hysterectomy was the traditional treatment for fibroids Better choice: Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) Image-guided catheter injects polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) into uterine Blood flow is Minimally-invasive procedure, only a sedative is blocked, causing fibroids to shrink required arteries UFE RECOVERY Hospital stay with narcotic pain medication may be recommended for pelvic pain Nausea may occur after procedure Return to normal .... activities in 7-10 days 6 hours of bed rest, go home the same day INFOGRAPHIC PROVIDED BY: EMORY ADVENTIST HOSPITAL AT SMYRNA www.atlantafibroidclinic.com SOURCES: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/uterine-fibroids/DSO0078 http://www.nuff.org/health_statistics.htm http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/archive/mdd/v04/i11/html/11health.html http://women.webmd.com/uterine-fibroids/uterine-fibroid-embolization-ufe