Myomectomy vs. UFE
Nearly 80% of women are diagnosed with one or more fibroid tumors, especially during their childbearing years. If you have fibroids or are experiencing symptoms like heavy bleeding or pelvic pain, our expert team at Texas Endovascular can help.
The good news? Even if your fibroids are painful and affect your daily life, they can be treated with little to no downtime using minimally invasive treatment options. That means myomectomy isn’t your only option for complete fibroid relief.
As you decide between myomectomy vs. UFE, explore all available treatment options to make the best choice for your health and uterus.
What is a myomectomy?
In the simplest terms, a myomectomy is a surgical procedure to remove fibroids from the uterus. A surgeon makes the necessary incisions during the procedure to access your uterus and surgically remove the fibroids.
This surgery aims to remove all symptom-inducing fibroids and reconstruct the uterus, when necessary, to preserve it.
There are four different types of myomectomies, including:
- Abdominal
- Laparoscopic
- Robotic
- Hysteroscopic
Laparoscopic and robotic myomectomies are typically outpatient procedures and do not require hospitalization. Other types of myomectomies, however, do require an overnight stay in the hospital.
What is uterine fibroid embolization?
As you decide between UFE or myomectomy, it’s important to understand what UFE is. Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure used to shrink and eliminate uterine fibroids.
An experienced interventional radiologist uses a specialized X-ray (fluoroscopy) to guide the delivery of embolic agents through the wrist or groin to target your fibroids. These agents block the arteries that provide blood to the fibroids, causing them to lose blood supply, shrink and completely disappear over time.
Myomectomy vs. UFE
There are various ways to treat fibroids. Some are minimally invasive, like UFE, while others are more extensive, like a myomectomy.
At Texas Endovascular, we recognize the importance of weighing your choices when deciding between myomectomy vs. UFE.
Both UFE and a myomectomy are proven procedures that effectively treat fibroids. They are also similar in that they both:
- Remove fibroids in all locations and sizes in one procedure.
- Preserve the uterus.
- Relieve symptoms quickly.
- Improve fertility for some women.
Let’s explore the differences between myomectomy vs. embolization in more detail using the table below.
UFE
- Utilizes local anesthesia and light sedation
- Full recovery in 1 to 2 weeks
- Requires one small incision and no stitches
- Can return home after the procedure
Myomectomy
- Performed under general anesthesia
- Full recovery in 4 to 6 weeks
- Requires more extensive incisions and surgery, depending on the approach
- Requires a hospital stay in most cases
It is important to note that myomectomies come with a unique set of risks compared to a UFE. With a myomectomy, women experience an increased risk of:
- Blood loss
- Scar tissue
- The need for total uterus removal
- Increased chance of pregnancy or childbirth complications
Before you decide on a treatment option, discussing your fibroid symptoms and receiving a thorough diagnosis with a team of specialists is essential.
Get minimally invasive treatment for fibroids
At Texas Endovascular, we don’t think extensive surgery, such as a myomectomy, is always the answer for fibroid treatment. Most women can reduce or eliminate their symptoms with non-surgical fibroid treatment procedures like UFE.
We encourage you to explore your treatment options with us. If you’ve ever wondered, “Is UFE right for me?” we can help you understand the procedure better and determine if it is the best route for your unique health needs. To determine whether myomectomy vs. UFE is right for you, contact us to schedule a consultation at one of our convenient locations today.
