Uterine Fibroids: More Advanced Treatment Options

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that grow in the wall of the uterus, often affecting women during their childbearing years. They are not life-threatening, but they can be accompanied by serious problems. Katherine Garzon wanted to have her fibroids removed, but was worried about how a procedure might affect her fertility. She was referred by her doctor to the Fibroid Center at South Miami Hospitals Center for Women & Infants, where Dr. Adam Geronemus performed a non-invasive procedure called uterine fibroid embolization. Want to see more? Baptist Health South Florida’s Resource Blog baptisthealth.net/news Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/baptisthealthsf Follow Baptist Health on Twitter www.twitter.com/baptisthealthsf Follow Baptist Health on Instagram www.instagram.com/baptisthealthsf/ [Transcript] (upbeat music) [Baptist Health logo] [Adam Geronemus, M.D., Associate Medical Director, Fibroid Center] Dr. Geronemus: Having a Fibroid Center like this was done to give the patient the most benefit. The benefit of going to one place and seeing multiple physicians, multiple specialists at the same time. [Patient Katherine Garzon walks in the doors of the Fibroid Center and is greeted by a nurse] [Katherine Garzon, Fibroid Center Patient] Katherine Garzon: I want to care about the fibroids I want to take it out or to reduce the size of it but my principle worry was my fertility after the procedure. If I can still get pregnant, you know? Dr. Geronemus: Her gynecologist went over many options but after looking at her anatomy, he thought that surgical options, in her case, may not give her the best chance at future fertility at which point, he referred her to us to evaluate for uterine fibroid embolization. [Dr. Geronemus shows Katherine a MRI scan of her uterine fibroid on a monitor in his office.] Dr. Geronemus: Big fibroid here that's pushing-- Katherine Garzon: They saw the MRI and he told me, "Yes, you're a good candidate for the process." He again explained with everything, how it's gonna be. [Illustration of a fibroid tumor showing catheter in blood vessel leading to the tumor and small particles that are injected.] Dr. Geronemus: Uterine fibroid embolization is a minimally invasive way to treat uterine fibroids. We have to enter the arteries. We either do it from the left radial artery or the femoral artery in the groin. Then what we do is we get a catheter, which is a small piece of tubing, out into the uterus, to the arteries to the uterus, then we put in these tiny particles which are smaller than a grain of sand or a grain of salt and it blocks the blood supply and that causes them to shrink down and die. [Graphic: Title: Decrease in Hyperembolization. Side by side before and after scans of the blood vessels surrounding Katherine's tumor showing reduction in size after treatment.] Katherine Garzon: The procedure was really good and was quick. And I stayed one night at the hospital. Dr. Geronemus: In different patients, the fibroids shrink at different rates. So hers did shrink very rapidly, we would say, in where she had a decrease in volume by 50% at six months. [Graphic: Title: Decrease in Fibroid Size. Side by side before and after scans of Katherine's tumor, comparing the solid white tumor before with just the remaining outer edges visible after treatment] Katherine Garzon: I noticed that I was pregnant in February 2018, like a year, exactly one year after. And then my baby, he was born in October. I definitely recommend the Fibroid Center at South Miami Hospital. [Katherine shows photos of her baby to Dr. Geronemus] Dr. Geronemus: How old is he here? Katherine Garzon: Five months. Dr. Geronemus: Women who are frustrated with their fibroids should seek help. You have to take control of your healthcare in your life and make sure you're getting the options that best fit you in your lifestyle. [End transcript]