Imagine constantly getting pains in your lower back, abdomen, and pelvis. Sounds uncomfortable, right? This is a reality for many women with uterine fibroids.
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00:00 Imagine constantly getting pains in your lower back, abdomen and pelvis.
00:05 Sounds uncomfortable, right?
00:07 This is a reality for many women with uterine fibroids.
00:11 Those are non-cancerous tumors that grow in and on the uterus.
00:14 It happens in about 70% of women.
00:17 The problem is many women are told that the only way to get rid of them is to get rid of their uterus.
00:22 So most deal with the pain since that option also takes away the ability to have kids.
00:27 That's why doctors at Ohio State's Wexner Medical Center are working to raise awareness
00:32 about a procedure that gets rid of uterine fibroids and lets women keep their uterus.
00:38 We make a tiny incision, so small we don't even leave a stitch in the patient.
00:42 And usually it's done through the groin area or the wrist, for example.
00:48 Either one is acceptable.
00:49 And we use these small catheters and wires and equipment that we have
00:53 to minimally invasively find the blood flow that goes to the fibroids
00:59 and then we plug it with medicine that would stop the flow.
01:03 And then over the next few weeks or months, they start shrinking naturally.
01:09 Uterine fibroid embolization is the official name of the surgery,
01:12 and it's available across the country.
01:14 Research on it dates back to the '90s, showing it's safe and about 85% effective.
01:19 But if the fibroids do come back after, you can get the procedure done again.
01:24 It's typically an outpatient surgery, and recovery time is only a few days at most.
01:29 Compare that to a hysterectomy, which is 100% effective,
01:32 but can come with a months-long recovery period and a higher risk of complications.
01:37 That's why some patients say the embolization procedure is life-changing.
01:41 I had two patients follow up in clinic yesterday who had this procedure,
01:44 and one of them was so happy.
01:47 She was crying from joy. She hugged me.
01:49 Symptoms and severity for uterine fibroids can vary,
01:52 so he says it's important to do research and talk with a doctor about what could work best for you.
01:58 The QR code on your screen will take you to a place to start.