Uterine fibroids are common, but they are much more prevalent among women of color. Up to 80% of Black women experience fibroids by age 50, according to statistics cited in a recent announcement. Despite this high prevalence, many women remain unaware of the condition and the range of treatment options available, including a non-surgical procedure called uterine fibroid embolization (UFE).
UFE is performed by an interventional radiologist. During the procedure, a catheter is inserted through a tiny incision and guided using real-time medical imaging to the blood vessels supplying the fibroids. Small particles are then injected to block blood flow to the fibroids, causing them to shrink over time. Compared to open surgical options, UFE typically results in less pain and a shorter recovery period.
Kenya Green, a patient who experienced fibroids for decades, shared her story. "Before UFE, my entire life was planned around my fibroids — what I could wear, where I could go—all to manage the symptoms and pain I was experiencing," she said. When she asked her OBGYN about options, she was told she could go on birth control or needed a hysterectomy. However, a friend referred her to an interventional radiologist who offered UFE.
Uterine fibroids are not cancer; they are growths in the uterus that can significantly impact menstrual health, causing heavy bleeding, bloating, and severe pain. Many women suffer in silence, unaware that surgery is not the only option. John Lipman, MD, an interventional radiologist and founder of the Atlanta Fibroid Center, emphasized that "fibroids are the number 1 reason why women undergo hysterectomy, which is unnecessary in the significant majority of cases and can be replaced with the much safer, less invasive, nonsurgical UFE procedure." He noted that UFE is covered by all major insurance plans and has a much shorter recovery time—days compared to weeks or months for surgery.
Awareness and access to fibroid diagnosis and treatment are vital, especially given the disparities. Uterine fibroids are three times more common in Black women and twice as common in Hispanic women, yet 36% of Black women and 22% of Hispanic women mistakenly believe they are not at risk. "It has been shown in multiple medical studies that most women suffering with fibroids do not hear about UFE as a treatment option from their doctor despite full endorsement from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists (ACOG) back in 2008," Lipman said. He urged women to obtain a second opinion from an interventional radiologist to learn about all treatment options.
After undergoing UFE, Green experienced a marked improvement in her quality of life. "Since I had my UFE, I no longer have to plan my life and my wardrobe around my fibroid symptoms," she said. "I am pain free and living a life of abundance, enjoying time with friends and family without worry." As July is Uterine Fibroid Awareness Month, all women are encouraged to learn about their options. For more information, visit the Radiology Health Equity Coalition Uterine Fibroid Resources page.
