Embolization
In the past, traditional treatment has involved hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) or ablation. At ECCO, we prefer a safer, gentler, minimally-invasive procedure called Embolization.
During this procedure, your interventional radiologist introduces a thin catheter into the arteries that feed the tissue, pinpointing the exact location via X-ray fluoroscopy. The doctor then injects a solution of embolizing particles into the arteries to close them, which causes the tissues they feed to shrink and die.
The embolization procedure is performed in our office-based laboratory on an outpatient basis. Because there are no incisions, there are few risks from the procedure itself, and the lack of trauma to the uterus means that you may retain your ability to become pregnant, if you so choose. Most patients report significant reductions of their reported symptoms, often as quickly as the next menstrual cycle.
