UFE is a very safe method for treating symptomatic fibroids and, like other minimally invasive procedures, has advantages over conventional open surgery. However, there are some associated risks, as there are with any medical procedure.
Injury
A small number of patients have experienced infection,which usually can be controlled by antibiotics. Injuries to the blood vessels through which the embolization is performed can occur and will rarely need surgical repair or result in an ineffective embolization. There also is chance of injury to the uterus, potentially leading to a hysterectomy.
Recurrence
There is a small chance the fibroids can re-grow after UFE and a small number of women undergoing UFE will require more than 1 treatment for maximum effect. Overall complication rates are simliar to hysterectomy and myomectomy but complications tend to be less severe. You should discuss complications of any medical procedure with your doctor prior your procedure or surgery.
Impact on Child Bearing
While some women have been able to become pregnant after UFE, the effects of UFE on a women’s ability to conceive, carry a child to term and deliver are unknown. As the ability to have children may be compromised by the UFE procedure, we do not currently recommend UFE in those women with a desire to have children in the future. Some women treated with UFE may experience early menopause, with typical menopausal symptoms, and the chance of this happening increases with patient age.
