Uterine Artery Embolisation (Fibroid Embolisation)

Uterine fibroids are a common benign growths in the muscular wall of the uterus (myometrium) which in some women can be problematic, causing heavy menstrual bleeding or pressure symptoms on the bladder and/or bowel.

Embolisation is a technique in which the blood supply to the fibroids is blocked, causing the fibroids to shrink and relieve symptoms.

This procedure can be done under sedation or general anesthetic. Your interventional radiologist will guide a fine catheter (tube) into the arteries of the uterus from either the groin or wrist, under x-ray guidance. Tiny plastic particles will then be slowly injected into the blood supply of the fibroids, causing them to block up. By starving the fibroids of blood, they will shrink over time.