• Benign tumor of uterine smooth muscle
  
• Fibroids are not pre-cancerous
  
• Also referred to as myomas or leiomyomas
  

HOW COMMON ARE UTERINE FIBROIDS?

• Estimated that 25 to 50% of women eventually develop fibroids
  
• Fibroids most frequent ages 30s and 40s
  
• Most common tumor of the pelvis in females
  
• 10% to 30% of women with fibroids are symptomatic
  

WHAT CAUSES FIBROIDS?

• Exact cause currently unknown
  
• Fibroid development and growth is linked to estrogen and progesterone
  
• Evidence that progesterone may stimulate fibroid growth
  
• Genetic predisposition is probable
  

WHAT SYMPTOMS OCCUR WITH UTERINE FIBROIDS?

• Heavy menstrual bleeding, sometimes with passage of blood clots. Anemia can occur if bleeding is severe
  
• Pain, pressure or feeling of fullness in the pelvis, abdomen or lower back
  
• Frequent urination or constipation
  
• Pain during or bleeding after intercourse
  
• Infertility or miscarriage
  
• Distended abdomen
  

HOW FIBROIDS ARE DIAGNOSED?

• Clinical history and physical exam
  
• Pelvic ultrasound
  
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
  
• Laparoscopy or hysteroscopy
  

HOW DID UTERINE FIBROID EMBOLIZATION (UFE) EVOLVE?

• Embolization of uterine arteries for severe post-partum or post-traumatic hemorrhage performed for over 20 years
  
• Jacques Ravina, French Gynecologist, in 1990 performed UFE two weeks prior to myomectomy in order to decrease blood loss
  
• Women cancelled myomectomy procedure because they noticed bleeding, pain and bulk symptoms improved after Uterine Fibroid Embolization
  
• This discovery has lead to a promising new alternative treatment-UTERINE FIBROID EMBOLIZATION!