Lost your job? Lost your insurance coverage? Learn why lack of insurance coverage doesn’t have to translate to the end of getting the help you need to treat your fibroids.

I found out last year, a few weeks after I lost my job and my health insurance, that I have a cluster of fibroids the size of a grape and that I would need surgery to remove them because they are growing. Of late, I have been having sharp pains in my pelvic area almost on a weekly basis. I would like to know what help you can offer me and what the process would entail.   I recently turned 30 years old and hope to be married soon and have children. What are my options are?

Having fibroids can not only pose as an inconvenience and detriment to your health, but it can pose as an inconvenience to your pocketbook, especially if you don’t have the  financial safety net of your insurance company to help pay for treatment.  We understand that not everybody has the ability to have insurance and we believe that not having insurance should not impede on your ability to receive care. For this reason, we accept both insured and uninsured patients. We have had several patients that are not covered under an insurance plan and have instead covered the cost of treatment by way of making incremental cash payments.

Additionally, you stated that you are experiencing sharp pelvic pains.  These pains are common among patients with fibroids and can often affect the quality of life of a patient.  From what you noted, it seems as though these pains are quite bothersome and you are looking into treatment options for your fibroids.

In terms of fibroid treatment options, there are 3 generally accepted choices of treatment: myomectomy, hysterectomy, and UFE.  Of the options stated, only Uterine Fibroid Embolizaton is the less invasive and less expensive option, with a quick recovery time.  Both surgical procedures, myomectomy and hysterectomy, carry the disadvantage of long hospital stays and a 6 to 8 week recovery period, compared to only 5-7 days with UFE.

Because you are looking to keep your fertility options open, a hysterectomy is clearly not an option; which leaves you with the option of carrying out either a myomectomy or embolization.  Although neither of these procedures can promise a 100% guarantee of being able to keep your fertility, many of our UFE patients have been able to conceive after the procedure.  Results vary for individual patients and therefore it is suggested that you discuss this option with your physician.  If you have any additional questions, please contact the Fibroid Treatment Collective at 866-362-6463.

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Not a fan of foreign objects in your body? Read on to learn more about PVA particles and how safe and effective they can be!

During UAE, what happens to the tiny particles used to block the fibroid artery? Can they go somewhere else?

Polyvinyl Alcohol Particles, or PVA particles are tiny particles that are transported through the catheter leading to the femoral artery to block the existing fibroid blood supply. These tiny particles are in no danger to one’s health and have no known long-term side effects.  As a result of the blockage to the existing fibroids in the uterus by way of the PVA particles, often times the fibroid begins to shrink.  This decrease in size can range anywhere between 50-70%; therefore, immediately putting an end to most, if not all, symptoms related to the fibroid.

Because the PVA particles are inserted directly into the artery feeding the fibroid, the particles are incapable of spreading anywhere other than to the targeted fibroid.  Blood flow in the artery is one-way and for this reason it is impossible for the particles to flow “backwards”. Additionally, thus far, there have not  been any known cases of particles escaping into the bloodstream and creating embolisms elsewhere. Careful attention during UAE appears to avoid the theoretical problem of distant embolisms.

At the Fibroid Treatment Collective, it is our number one priority to educate our patients and ensure that they feel secure when making any health decisions. If you have any additional questions regarding UAE or fibroids, please feel free to give us a call at 866-362-6463. You can also scroll down to post a comment to this blog or click here to ask your question online.

Learn about whether a tumorous fibroid in your uterus is considered cancerous or benign.

Since fibroids are tumorous, does that mean that they are cancerous?

Uterine Fibroids, or as they are sometimes called, Uterine Fibroid tumors, are benign (non-cancerous) growths in the uterus of a woman.  They usually occur in the uterus of women between the ages of 30 and 50, but can come about sooner or later than the indicated age range. Contrary to the common association between “tumors” and “cancerous tissue”, fibroid tumors are not cancerous.

A tumor, by definition, is described as an abnormal new mass of tissue that serves no purpose.  This “abnormal mass of tissue” can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). A benign tumor is a tumor that lacks all three of the malignant, or cancerous, properties of a cancer. Therefore, a benign tumor does not: grow in an unlimited, aggressive manner, does not invade surrounding tissue, and does not spread throughout the body (metastasize). In the case of fibroid tumors,  they are benign and therefore, not cancerous. The Fibroid tumors are solid tumors made of fibrous tissue.  Most often, fibroids occur as multiple tumor masses which are slow-growing and often cause no symptoms.

The term “benign” implies a mild and non progressive disease that are often harmless to the health. However, some benign fibroids that lack the invasive properties of a cancer may still produce negative health effects.  Therefore, if you experience any symptoms related to fibroid growth that you feel are impeding on your daily activities, we suggest that you consult your physician, or give us a call at 866-362-6463.

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Have Fibroids? You’re not alone. Find out when you should get treatment and when it may be ok to skip over the option.

Should a fibroid be treated if it is not causing me pain?

Fibroid growth is quite common. As women age, they become prone to uterine fibroids, especially during  their late child bearing years until menopause. It’s estimated that about 80% of women have uterine fibroids by the time they reach age 50.  Therefore, most of the time, unless the fibroids are causing severe symptoms or affecting fertility, there is no need to treat them.

There are many reasons why patients choose to treat their fibroids.  The following causes listed below are among the top reasons why patients choose to seek out treatment:

• Heavy bleeding
• Pain in the lower abdomen and/or back
• Blockage of the urinary tract or bowels
• Infertility, when fibroid changes the shape of the uterus or the location of the fallopian tubes

Most physicians and health professionals agree, however, that unless fibroids are significantly affecting the quality of life of an individual, surgery or any type of procedural treatment should be avoided as complications may occur. Therefore, seeking out treatment is often at the discretion of the patient and one should consult their physician to weigh the costs and benefits of treatment.

If you have fibroids and are considering treatment, please feel free to call the Fibroid Treatment Collective (FTC) at 866-362-6463 or contact us online for a free phone consulation.  We will be more than happy to answer any of your questions related to fibroids and procedural options.

Wondering if UAE will work for your cervical fibroids? Read on to find out just how embolization works to treat all kinds of fibroids.

Does the Embolization procedure work with fibroids in the cervix?

Yes, Uterine Fibroid Embolization works for all types of fibroids, including those in the subserosal, submucosal, intramural, and cervical regions.  Because cervical fibroids tend to “feed off” of the same blood supply as those in the subserosal, submucosal, and intramural regions, those fibroids also tend to shrink after the Uterine Artery Embolization procedure.

The UAE procedure blocks the blood supply to the fibroids by way of small plastic particles, called PVA particles, which embolize the path to the fibroids. The uterine artery is the major blood supply feeding the fibroids. After the particles block the uterine artery, the fibroids can no longer receive the blood and nutrients necessary to maintain and therefore shrink as a result. Fibroids in the cervix also tend to use this blood supply; therefore, after Uterine Artery Embolization, these fibroids are also affected and shrink as an outcome.

If you have any additional questions regarding fibroids or the procedure, please feel free to call the Fibroids Treatment Collective at 866-362-6463.

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The affect of contraceptives on fibroid size has long been a mystery. Click inside to read what leads some researchers to speculate the positive association between birth control and fibroid growth.

Can birth control pills cause fibroids to grow?

As of yet, there is no research that supports a definite correlation between birth control use and fibroid growth.  However, some researchers speculate that since female hormones estrogen and progesterone appear to be involved in the growth of fibroids, hormonal drugs such as birth control pills that contain such hormones may lead to fibroid enlargement.

At any rate, research continues to be carried out to solidify whether or not contraceptives affect fibroid growth. Until then, the answer remains uncertain and should patients with fibroids choose to use contraceptives, they should meet with their GYN consistently so as to monitor their individual health situation.

For help with any additional questions or concerns, please call 866-362-6463 and we will be more than happy to assist you.

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Are you worried that having large fibroids eliminates you as a candidate for UAE? Guess again! UAE may be an optimal option for you regardless of size and location.

 I have been told that my fibroids are too large and since I no longer have a menstrual cycle the embolization won’t help me. I don’t want surgery. Is there any other help for women like me?

Generally speaking, the embolization procedure is capable of treating fibroids irrespective of the size and location; therefore, the size of the fibroids should not be an issue when considering UAE as a viable treatment option.

Also, you mentioned that you no longer have a menstrual cycle.  Although this does not eliminate you as a feasible UAE candidate, you should consider the idea that often times fibroids tend to shrink on their own after a women hits menopause.  This is not for certain; however, many women tend to experience a decrease in fibroid size after they reach menopause due to a change in their hormone levels.

All things considered, being that you are looking to explore a less invasive approach for the treatment of your fibroids, UAE may serve as an optimal approach.  If you are considering UAE or have any questions about the procedure, we encourage you to call the Fibroid Treatment Collective at 866-362-6463 so that we can answer any of your questions.  You may also want to explore the option of coming in for an in-office consultation with Dr. McLucas so that he can better assess your individual health situation and advise you on what your options are.

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Curious to find if and how fibroids affect you and your baby during and after pregnancy. Read on!

What are the chances of a child being born healthy by a mother affected by fibroids during pregnancy?

If you are pregnant and have fibroids, you may be able to sleep a little better at night knowing that the battle is half over. Several of the complications related to fibroids occur prior to becoming pregnant.  It is because of certain types of fibroids that women experience infertility.  This is often due to the fact that these fibroids may either block a fallopian tube, thereby stopping the sperm from ever reaching the egg or may bulge into the uterine cavity, changing the natural shape of the uterus and preventing a newly fertilized egg from being planted.  Therefore, if you have successfully passed this stage and are now well into your pregnancy, you may have a little less to worry about.

It is not to say, however, that you will be problem-free if you have fibroids during your pregnancy. Although many fibroids do not cause any problems during pregnancy, some fibroids -especially those located in the cavity of the uterus-may increase the chance of a miscarriage (in which the pregnancy ends before 20 weeks) or may cause a woman to go into premature labor. They may also increase the chance that the baby is not positioned to come out headfirst which can increase the need for cesarean section.  Other complications due to fibroids may include discomfort, feelings of pressure, or pain.

Because of the reasons stated above and simply to ensure the proper growth of your baby, it is important to constantly have your pregnancy monitored by your physician.  Although fibroids, almost never directly affect the health of your baby during pregnancy, it is necessary to keep close watch.

All things considered, if you are able to successfully deliver your baby, you should feel comforted knowing that the fibroids have no affect on the health of your newly born baby.

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