John Lipman

Uterine fibroids are benign (non-cancerous) tumors that are composed of smooth muscle and fibrous tissue. They are the most common pelvic tumor in women and affect 1 in every 3 women of childbearing age and as many as 80% of African-American women. These tumors can vary greatly in size and grow under

Yes. There are a number of medicines used to treat uterine fibroids. The most common medications are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) and oral contraceptive pills (OCPs). An example of an NSAID is ibuprofen which is being replaced more commonly by a different NSAID tranexamic acid.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a condition where blood clots form most commonly in the deep veins of the legs or pelvis. These clots can break off and travel to the heart and lungs (aka pulmonary emboli) which increase the right heart pressures and can cause right heart failure or even death. 15-25%

A Ventilation-Perfusion (V/Q) scan is typically a procedure performed in the Nuclear Medicine section of the Radiology Department of a hospital. There are 2 parts of this test: one to look at ventilation and the other to evaluate the perfusion (blood flow) of the lungs. Each of them uses a very small

Embolization is a procedure that cuts off the flow of blood in to an area that it previously supplied. Liver embolization takes advantage of the dual blood supply of the liver (hepatic artery and portal vein) and the fact the normal liver derives most of its supply from the portal vein, while cancerous

Portal vein embolization (PVE) is a procedure performed by Interventional Radiologists (IR). IRs are board-certified physicians who specialize in minimally invasive targeted treatments to treat medical conditions all over the body. The portal vein receives venous blood from the stomach and intestines

The risks for UFE are very low and significantly lower than any of the surgical options for fibroids. There are some women who no longer menstruate after UFE. This has been reported in very rare cases in women under 40 years of age. The risk is about 1-2% for women 40-50yrs and higher for those women

If you are suffering with symptomatic uterine fibroids, Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) may be an option for you. The procedure is also known as Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE). The most common symptoms are heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, and increased urinary frequency. It allows women

Interventional Radiologists (IR) are the physicians that perform the UFE procedure. You should seek out the IR who has the most UFE experience in your area. If there is not an IR with a significant UFE experience in your area, The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) website (www.sirweb.org)

In experienced hands, the UFE procedure often takes less than 1 hour to perform. Patients will have a period of bed rest; typically 1-2 hours (if a simple closure device to seal the opening at the skin is used) or up to 6 hours if it is not. The opening at the skin is covered by a regular band aid.

Virchow was a 19th Century physician who first described the risks for developing thrombosis, which still apply today. Virchow's triad consists of hypercoagulability (thicker blood), stasis of blood flow, and vessel endothelial (lining) injury. Venous blood in our legs needs to get back to the heart

Bleeding related to fibroids should first be treated medically. In the past non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAID, ex. ibuprofen) or oral contraceptive pills have been the most commonly used. More recently, tranexamic acid is a NSAID that has specific effects on the lining of the uterus

Fibroids are only treated if they cause symptoms and therefore effectiveness should be measured in terms of relieving symptoms. Over 90% of patients will get significant improvement in symptoms (typically heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, increased urinary frequency) or complete resolution.