Some women who have fibroids find uterine artery embolization (UAE) as a better alternative than hysterectomy or other surgical method. Hysterectomy itself has been performed about 600 thousands times each year in U.S alone for treating enlarged and symptomatic uterine fibroid.
Uterine artery embolization involves a non-surgical procedure that blocks the blood supply to the fibroids without removing the fibroids. This is performed by UAE specialists (interventional radiologists) by placing a tiny, flexible tube called catheter into the artery in the skin over your groin, then guiding it into the uterine arteries with a fluoroscope (the x-ray device) guidance.
Uterine arteries are the vessels that supply blood to the uterus and fibroids. When the catheter is in its position, then small particles are injected, and block the tiny vessels to the fibroids. These blockages will stop the blood supply and make the fibroids shrink and die.