"We are seeing more and more women exploring the alternatives to hysterectomies when diagnosed with fibroid tumors," explains James York, M.D., an interventional radiologist with Vista Radiology, P.C.

Uterine fibroid tumors are very common, with as many as 20 to 30 percent of women having them. For most, these non-cancerous tumors present no symptoms and no physical problems.

Some women, however, experience symptoms prompting them to seek medical attention and treatment. Symptoms of fibroid tumors may include: heavy prolonged menstrual bleeding, severe cramping, pelvic pain, back pain, increased frequency of urination, pressure on the bowel, and an enlarged abdomen.

During uterine artery embolization, a tiny nick about the size of a pencil tip is made in the skin at the top of the thigh. The radiologist inserts a small tube (catheter) and steers it through the arteries leading to the uterine tumors. Imaging technology is used to guide the catheter's movement and the injection of small particles. Patients are sedated, but conscious.

"This treatment involves placing tiny particles - about the size of grains of sand - into the arteries leading to the tumors," says Dr. York. "The particles block the blood supply to the tumors, causing them to shrink away."

According to Dr. York, the procedure takes about one to two hours, then patients typically remain in the hospital overnight. Medications are prescribed if needed following the procedure to alleviate cramping and nausea. Generally, patients fully recover in a few days to one week.

"Uterine artery embolization can be a life-changing procedure for women of child-bearing age because it prevents the necessity of having a hysterectomy," Dr. York says. "Older women like this option also, because it isn't major surgery and the recovery time is much shorter."

The procedure has been used for more than 20 years to treat heavy bleeding after childbirth. Embolization was discovered as an effective treatment for fibroids more than five years ago and has since gained national attention. Approximately 2,000 procedures have been performed worldwide to date.

If you have been diagnosed with fibroid tumors, talk to your gynecologist or family practitioner about uterine artery embolization and if it may be a possible treatment for you. Additional information on fibroid tumors and embolization is also available from the Society of Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology's web site ( www.scvir.org ).