Heavy periods that interfere with work, persistent pelvic pressure, abdominal fullness or frequent trips to the bathroom can make uterine fibroids difficult to ignore.
Many women who receive a fibroid diagnosis immediately worry that hysterectomy or another major operation will be necessary. That is not always the case.
Fibroid treatment without surgery in Mumbai can include medicines and minimally invasive treatments such as Uterine Fibroid Embolisation, commonly called UFE. The right option depends on your symptoms, fibroid size and location, age, general health and plans for future pregnancy.
Uterine fibroids do not always require surgery. Mild symptoms may sometimes be monitored or managed with medicines. For suitable women with troublesome symptoms, Uterine Fibroid Embolisation can reduce blood supply to fibroids so they gradually shrink. Surgery may still be more appropriate in some situations, especially when fertility goals or fibroid anatomy influence treatment planning.
Uterine fibroids are non cancerous growths that develop from the muscle and connective tissue of the uterus.
They can occur as a single growth or as several fibroids of different sizes. Their position also varies. Some grow within the muscular wall of the uterus, some project into the uterine cavity and others grow toward the outer surface.
Many women have no symptoms and may discover fibroids during an ultrasound performed for another reason.
When symptoms do occur, their severity does not always depend only on size. A smaller fibroid in a particular location may cause heavy bleeding, while a larger fibroid elsewhere may mainly cause pressure symptoms.
Fibroids commonly become smaller after menopause.
Fibroid symptoms differ between women.
Common symptoms include:
Heavy or prolonged bleeding can contribute to iron deficiency anaemia, which may cause tiredness, weakness, dizziness or shortness of breath.
Fibroids can sometimes be associated with fertility or pregnancy problems, although many women with fibroids become pregnant without difficulty.
Not every fibroid needs treatment.
Women with no symptoms or only mild symptoms may be advised to monitor the condition.
Treatment becomes more relevant when symptoms begin affecting daily life or health.
Examples include very heavy menstrual bleeding, anaemia, persistent pelvic pain, pressure symptoms, frequent urination, abdominal enlargement or fertility related concerns.
A doctor should also investigate unusually heavy bleeding rather than assuming fibroids are the only explanation.
Ultrasound is commonly used to confirm the presence of fibroids and assess their size and location.
The scan may be performed through the abdomen or vaginally.
Magnetic resonance imaging may be recommended when more detailed information is needed, particularly when planning Uterine Fibroid Embolisation or another procedure.
Assessment may also include:
The purpose of evaluation is to confirm that fibroids are responsible for the symptoms and identify which treatment options are medically appropriate.
Several treatment approaches may avoid open surgery.
The correct option depends on the symptoms being treated.
Medicines may help control heavy bleeding or pain.
Options can include medicines that reduce menstrual bleeding, hormonal treatment and medicines that temporarily influence the hormones involved in fibroid growth.
Some medicines can reduce fibroid size temporarily. Others mainly control bleeding and do not remove the fibroids.
Medication may be appropriate for some women but does not provide the same result as physically treating or removing fibroids. Symptoms may also return after some treatments are stopped.
UFE is a minimally invasive procedure performed by an interventional radiologist.
Instead of surgically removing each fibroid, UFE targets the blood vessels supplying them.
Tiny particles are delivered through a thin catheter into the uterine arteries. These particles reduce blood flow to the fibroids, causing them to shrink gradually.
The surrounding uterus continues to receive blood through other vessels.
UFE is performed using real time imaging.
The interventional radiologist usually accesses an artery through a small puncture in the groin or another suitable vascular access site.
A thin catheter is then guided through the arteries toward the uterine blood supply using fluoroscopy, which provides moving X ray images.
Contrast material is injected so the doctor can identify the arteries supplying the fibroids.
Small embolisation particles are then delivered into those arteries.
The aim is to reduce the fibroid blood supply while preserving blood flow to healthy surrounding tissue.
As blood supply falls, the treated fibroids begin to shrink and symptoms may improve over the following weeks and months.
UFE may be considered for women who have symptomatic uterine fibroids and want to understand alternatives to surgical treatment.
It may be particularly relevant when fibroids are causing:
Suitability cannot be decided from symptoms alone.
Fibroid number, size, location, blood supply, age, previous treatment, medical history and pregnancy plans should all be considered.
A gynaecological assessment is also important because other conditions can sometimes produce similar symptoms.
UFE is not appropriate for every woman with fibroids.
Another treatment may be preferred if there is uncertainty about the diagnosis, significant infection, certain vascular problems or another medical reason that makes embolisation unsuitable.
Future fertility is particularly important.
Pregnancy after UFE is possible, but the evidence regarding fertility and pregnancy outcomes is less established than for some surgical approaches.
Mayo Clinic notes that myomectomy is often preferred when treatment is necessary and preserving future fertility is a major priority.
Women planning pregnancy should therefore discuss treatment with both a gynaecologist and interventional radiologist before deciding on UFE.
UFE is commonly performed under local anaesthesia, with medicines for pain relief and sedation when needed.
Once the artery is accessed, the catheter is guided to the uterine arteries and embolisation particles are delivered.
CIRSE notes that the procedure may take about one to two hours, although the duration depends on each patient’s blood vessel anatomy and procedural complexity.
Afterward, the access site is monitored and pain relief is provided.
Some patients require a short hospital stay for observation and symptom control.
UFE should not be described as completely painless.
Cramping and pelvic pain can occur during the early recovery period because the fibroids are losing their blood supply.
CIRSE notes that pain medicines are commonly used before, during and after the procedure. Temporary fever can also occur after embolisation.
Pain control should therefore be planned as part of the treatment rather than treated as an unexpected complication.
Recovery varies between patients.
Many women begin light activity within several days.
CIRSE states that most women can return to normal activity within approximately one to two weeks after UFE.
Recovery advice may include rest, medicines for pain or cramping, hydration and temporary limits on physical activity.
Follow up is important because symptom improvement occurs gradually rather than immediately.
CIRSE describes follow up at approximately one month and six months, with imaging such as MRI sometimes used after treatment to evaluate the fibroids.
For appropriately selected patients, potential advantages include:
These are potential benefits rather than guaranteed outcomes.
Fibroids usually shrink rather than disappear completely after embolisation.
Every medical procedure has potential risks.
Possible issues after UFE include:
There is also a possibility that symptoms may persist or recur and another treatment may eventually be necessary.
The individual risk profile should be explained before treatment.
UFE and myomectomy both preserve the uterus, but they treat fibroids differently.
UFE blocks the arteries supplying fibroids so they gradually shrink.
It generally avoids abdominal surgery and can treat several fibroids during the same procedure.
Myomectomy surgically removes fibroids while preserving the uterus.
It may be performed through the abdomen, through minimally invasive surgical techniques or through the cervix depending on fibroid location and size.
Myomectomy may be particularly relevant when future pregnancy is a major treatment goal.
Neither approach should automatically be considered better.
The right choice depends on fibroid anatomy, symptoms, fertility plans and the patient’s priorities.
Hysterectomy removes the uterus and provides a definitive treatment for uterine fibroids because fibroids cannot grow again without a uterus.
Pregnancy is not possible after hysterectomy.
UFE preserves the uterus and avoids major uterine removal surgery.
However, UFE does not guarantee that every symptom will disappear permanently and some patients may require additional treatment later.
For women who want uterine preservation, this difference can be an important part of treatment discussions.
Many women are interested in minimally invasive treatment because they want to avoid a major abdominal operation.
Practical considerations may include:
The decision should still be based on medical suitability rather than recovery time alone.
There is no single reliable price for fibroid treatment.
Cost depends on the treatment selected, imaging requirements, blood tests, medicines, embolisation materials, anaesthesia, day care or hospital stay and the complexity of the procedure.
Patients considering UFE should request an individual estimate after clinical assessment.
Insurance coverage also varies between policies. Patients should confirm coverage, authorisation requirements and possible exclusions directly with their insurer or third party administrator before treatment.
C3 Medicare in Chembur provides interventional radiology services for conditions including uterine fibroids.
Its interventional radiology facilities include Digital Subtraction Angiography equipment, ultrasonography and dedicated day care suites. C3 Medicare lists embolisation among its interventional procedures and specifically includes uterine fibroids among the conditions treated.
Dr. Rochan Pant is a Visiting Consultant in Interventional Radiology at C3 Medicare. The clinic describes his experience as covering vascular and non vascular interventional radiology and image guided procedures.
For a woman considering UFE, assessment should focus on symptoms, fibroid anatomy, imaging findings, previous treatments, fertility plans and the alternatives available.
An interventional radiology consultation may be useful if:
Women who develop extremely heavy bleeding, severe sudden pelvic pain, fainting, severe weakness or other urgent symptoms should seek prompt medical attention.
Fibroid treatment without surgery in Mumbai can include medicines and minimally invasive procedures such as Uterine Fibroid Embolisation.
UFE may help appropriately selected women reduce symptoms while preserving the uterus and avoiding major surgery. It is not suitable for every fibroid or every patient, and fertility plans require especially careful discussion.
Women with symptomatic fibroids who want to understand if UFE may be appropriate can consult the interventional radiology team at C3 Medicare in Chembur, Mumbai for an individual assessment based on symptoms, imaging and personal treatment goals.
Yes. Some fibroids can be monitored, while medicines may help control symptoms such as heavy bleeding. Uterine Fibroid Embolisation is another option for selected symptomatic fibroids. It reduces blood flow to the fibroids so they gradually shrink. The appropriate treatment depends on symptoms, fibroid anatomy, age, health and fertility plans.
No. UFE is performed by an interventional radiologist through a catheter placed in an artery. The fibroids are not surgically cut out. Instead, particles are used to reduce their blood supply. This causes the fibroids to shrink gradually.
Recovery varies, but CIRSE states that many women can resume light activity within several days and most return to normal activities within approximately one to two weeks. Your treating doctor may recommend a different schedule depending on symptoms and recovery.
Yes. Because UFE targets the uterine arteries supplying the fibroids rather than removing each growth individually, several fibroids can potentially be treated during one procedure. Suitability still depends on fibroid location, blood supply, symptoms and imaging findings.
Pregnancy can occur after UFE, but fertility outcomes require careful discussion. For women who strongly wish to preserve future fertility, myomectomy may sometimes be preferred because reproductive outcomes after UFE are less certain. A gynaecologist and interventional radiologist should review this before treatment.
Treated fibroids generally shrink rather than being removed. New fibroids can also develop because the uterus remains in place. Some women may therefore experience recurrent symptoms and need further treatment. Follow up helps determine the response after embolisation.
There is no single option that is best for every patient. Hysterectomy removes the uterus and permanently prevents fibroid recurrence, but pregnancy is no longer possible. UFE preserves the uterus and avoids major surgery. Treatment choice depends on symptoms, fibroid characteristics, age, fertility plans and personal priorities.
UFE is performed by an interventional radiologist trained in catheter based image guided procedures. The doctor uses fluoroscopy to guide a catheter into the uterine arteries and delivers particles that reduce blood flow to the fibroids.
