Non-Surgical UFE Offers Hope for Fibroid Sufferers

Uterine fibroids, non-cancerous growths in the uterus, affect up to 80% of Black women by age 50, yet many suffer in silence unaware of non-surgical options like Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE). Performed by interventional radiologists, UFE blocks blood flow to fibroids via a tiny incision, causing them to shrink with less pain and faster recovery than hysterectomy. Patient Kenya Green, after decades of managing symptoms, found relief through UFE after being told her only options were birth control or hysterectomy. Dr. John Lipman of the Atlanta Fibroid Center emphasizes that fibroids are the leading cause of hysterectomy, which is often unnecessary when UFE is available. Despite endorsement by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, many women are not informed about UFE. For more details, visit the Radiology Health Equity Coalition Uterine Fibroid Resources page.

Disparities in fibroid prevalence are stark: Black women are three times more likely, and Hispanic women twice as likely, to have fibroids, yet awareness lags. A survey found 36% of Black women and 22% of Hispanic women mistakenly believe they are not at risk. July is Uterine Fibroid Awareness Month, highlighting the need for education and access to all treatment options. UFE, covered by major insurance, offers a game-changing alternative to surgery, but patient awareness is crucial. Green now lives pain-free, no longer planning her life around fibroid symptoms. The key takeaway: women deserve to know their options, including a second opinion from an interventional radiologist, to make informed decisions about their health.