Is a UFE really enough for large fibroids?

Has anyone had bladder pressure or pain from a 5cm (2 inch) fibroid? I ask because I have a 10cm one sitting on top of my bladder, and my IR said I could only expect a 50% reduction. The idea of waiting for months after the procedure to find out if it worked AND if the size reduction is enough to make a difference fills me with dread!

I'm starting to lean more and more towards the hysterectomy just because I want assurance the problem will be fixed. Am I overreacting?

I was told up to a 50% reduction however mine shrank a lot more. They shrink less when you are in menopause because often they have started to calcify. I was actively having cycles when I was embolized and I think this is why it reduced as much as it did. UFE will stop or greatly reduce bleeding. Bulk reduction occurs over time and is different for everyone. Knowing a medical treatment is looming of any sort is stressful. Overreacting is normal and to be expected.

My fibroid was larger (15cm) and I chose not to pursue the UFE option as 7.5cm still felt too big. I was thinking melon to grapefruit was still bigger than I wanted. If it had shrunk to lime size, I might have decided it was OK.

I was also told that my uterus was unlikely to shrink back so it would still be larger and bulkier so some of the pressure symptoms might not be alleviated. My fibroid and uterus were substantially larger than you are facing though. I went straight to hysterectomy because my personal circumstances meant that a single recovery was preferable and the timescales with my job meant that waiting until the UFE had had a chance wasn't going to be practical.

If you have the option to try, it's not going to hurt unless your symptoms are so irritating that putting up with them for an extra 6 months or so is unbearable. If it doesn't shrink as much as you hope or you still have symptoms, then you can schedule the surgery.

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Originally Posted by Pusheen I'm starting to lean more and more towards the hysterectomy just because I want assurance the problem will be fixed. Am I overreacting?

You are not overreacting. Hysterectomy has a finality that UFE does not.

My gyn recommended I consult with an IR for my fibroids, as an alternate to hysterectomy. I had one at 13cm and multiple smaller ones. To me, UFE made sense if I was preserving reproductive options, but I am 55 and WELL past any childbearing ambitions, despite modern science I chose the removal of uterus and cervix because it was a solid clear-cut elimination of all future bleeding. I was done.

FWIW, I'm 10 days post-op and feeling pretty good.

I agree with the others, you're not overreacting.

I had a single 5cm fibroid for at least 16 years and it never bothered me - no pressure, no pain. After I stopped with the birth control pill, it doubled in size and acquired at least two 3cm roommates. I had unpredictable heavy bleeding. While I didn't feel any pain with the expanded size, I had bladder and bowel urgency which I didn't realize the fibroids were causing. I did have pressure when I exercised, specifically running because that's high-impact. When doc recommended a hysterectomy, I briefly asked about alternative fibroid removal and he shook his head - I think with his 40 years of experience, he knew what he was going to find. He lost count at 15 fibroids! With the hysterectomy, no more fibroids and no more bleeding.

OTOH, a hysterectomy is major surgery. The majority of us return to our normal lives as I did (I'm more active now, in fact), but there are no guarantees that you won't have complications or ongoing issues afterwards. A UFE is a viable alternative procedure which may get you through until menopause. There aren't any guarantees that you won't be facing a hysterectomy later, but I think Sisterduke's positive outcome is worth considering the UFE. If you're beyond wanting children or there may be more fibroids there, then the hysterectomy would be the finish line.

Thank you everyone for your input. I talk to my doctor next week. She hasn't seen my MRI yet (only the IR has). It sounds like if the hysterectomy isn't medically necessary, the UFE is worth a shot.

I really appreciate you sharing your stories. I don't know what I would do right now without this!