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“Uterine Fibroid Embolization isn’t for women who want babies” – Fact or Fiction?

Early research on UFE, (research now nearly 20 years old), suggested it diminished the ovarian reserve. Ovarian reserve is a medical term for how many good quality eggs you have to make babies. But the average age of women in the study groups was 45. An age when ovarian reserve is already naturally declining. Fertility is already problematic. The assumption that UFE negatively impacts fertility was based on data from women whose fertility was already negatively affected, due to their age. The findings were fiction.

Patient experience and recent medical information are confirming this. As more and more women discovered UFE as a non-surgical treatment option, more and more women chose it. Many went on to have successful pregnancies and many who experienced fibroid-related fertility issues, conceived. Many, of an age to have a suitable ovarian reserve, had babies.
It was time for a re-think about UFE and fertility. It was time for a new study.

A Landmark UFE & Fertility Study

Minimally Invasive Therapy and Technology, a medical journal known for articles on cutting edge, non-surgical advances, published a study by Dr. Bruce McLucas, that investigated the ovarian reserves in fibroid patients after embolization. The study tracked and tested a group of 89 women, between the ages of 23 and 40, for four years after their UFE procedures. The resulting data indicated UFE did not diminish ovarian reserve. UFE did not impair fertility. In fact, 32 of the 89 patients actually had a rise in ovarian reserve, post-procedure.

A Few Other Interesting Facts the Study Revealed

Fact #1: The ability for the uterus to function normally for conception, pregnancy, and delivery is not impaired by UFE.

Fact #2: Fertility in women of normal childbearing age is preserved and even enhanced by UFE when infertility issues are being caused by fibroids.

Fact #3: Ovarian reserve levels, which naturally decline as a woman ages, are not further diminished by UFE.

For Women Who Want Children, But Also Want Time to Decide

Myomectomy, a common surgery to remove fibroids from the uterus, has roughly a six-month window of opportunity for pregnancy. Fibroids tend to grow back after myomectomy. 50% of all myomectomy patients will experience fibroid recurrence within a year. Which means the time to try for a child after a myomectomy can be short. Uterine Fibroid Embolization has 0% incidence of fibroid regrowth. The possibility for pregnancy after UFE is only bound by the normal decline of ovarian reserves as you age.

Read about the landmark UFE & Fertility study here.

Testimonials about pregnancy after UFE here and here and here.

You’re experiencing fibroid symptoms and Valentines Day is just around the corner. In the spirit of love, apply some of that good ‘ol tender love and care on your body and treat your fibroids . Click inside to find out how you can restore your health in time for the big day and get your health back up to par.

You have been diagnosed with fibroids and immediately your mind starts racing with questions. How did this happen? What does this mean in terms of your health? What is going to happen next?

First, take a deep breath and relax, uterine fibroids are not cancer and they do not increase the possibility of cancer. It is only on rare occasions that fibroids actually transform into cancerous growths. Uterine fibroid tumors are benign lumps that grow on the uterus of most women, most often during childbearing years.

Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids

Typically fibroids do not cause any symptoms and therefore do not need any form of treatment. Usually your doctor will unintentionally discover the fibroids during a regular pelvic exam because most women are unaware that they even have this condition.

At any rate, sometimes these fibroids can produce some uncomfortable symptoms like discomfort, pelvic pain, or increased menstrual bleeding that can interfere with your sex-life. At times, fibroid symptoms may be present, but women are unaware that the cause is uterine fibroids.

Fibroids and Loss of Sex Drive

Another such symptom is the loss of libido. Suddenly sex is painful and not worth the struggle or you just don’t have a need for it. With Valentine’s Day peeking around the corner, the last thing you want to come in between you and that special someone are your fibroids. Not to mention, Valentines Day is about love, right? Who better and more capable of providing you with the right amount of love and affection than yourself? In the spirit of the season, treat your mind and body by tending to your health and treating your fibroids.

First things first, do not ignore sudden changes that occur in your body because these changes could be the sign of a deeper issue. Make sure to set up an appointment with your gynecologist to discuss these symptoms.

One explanation for the pain is the size of the fibroids. Large fibroids can produce pressure in the uterus and can cause intercourse to become painful. Additionally, when benign fibroid tumors grow in the area of your cervix at the end of the vaginal tract, they can make penetrative sex highly uncomfortable for women.

The aforementioned cervical fibroids can either press on the cervix or actually hang through the cervical opening, making it exceedingly difficult for women to enjoy sexual relations. To make matters worse, fibroids growing in this area can also result in bleeding during sexual activity.

Another explanation for the loss of interest is your hormones. Even if the fibroids are of smaller size they can impact your life. The small fibroid tumors can cause hormonal imbalance between estrogen and progesterone, which, in turn, creates the loss of interest in sex.

Treatment Options for Fibroids

The key to reclaiming your sex drive and making sure that you’re back up to speed for the “season of love” is to research your options and talk to your doctor about finding a medical option that is best for you.

One such option that is appealing to most women due to its advantageous qualities of being safe, effective and having a speedy recovery time is UFE. It requires no major surgery and the recovery times with UFE are dramatically faster than with hysterectomy or myomectomy, both of which require abdominal surgery. Many women resume light activities in a few days, and the majority of women are able to return to normal activities within seven to ten days. Choosing UFE as your fibroid treatment can allow you to be back on your feet and looking forward to a romantic day filled with endless possibilities in no time.

If you have been diagnosed with fibroids or suspect that you may have fibroids, feel free to give us a call at 866-362-6463 so that we may schedule you for a FREE consultation with Dr. Bruce McLucas. By taking advantage of this consultation, you will allow yourself the opportunity to speak one-on-one with the doctor himself, discussing treatment options and deciding whether UAE is a viable option for you.

Posts Tagged ‘ fertility ’

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