Blood supply to the ovaries can be reduced by a UAE and some women do have a transient reduction in hormone levels. However, in the vast majority of women, ovarian function returns to normal. Women over 45 years of age can have ovarian dysfunction after UAE or menopause. The risk of early menopause after UAE is the same as any surgical procedure for fibroids including myomectomy or hysterectomy. There is no greater risk of ovarian dysfunction after UFE as compared with myomectomy or hysterectomy.

Yes. Many women have delivered healthy babies after embolisation, many of whom were told that they would never be able to conceive. Each woman who wishes to conceive is evaluated individually by our experienced team of gynaecologists and fertility specialists who advise our patients whether UFE or myomectomy are the better option in their opinion.

MRI is an extremely useful microinvasive imaging test for fibroids. It provides the best quality images of the uterus, ovaries, and other soft tissue structures in the pelvis, allowing the radiologist to plan the UAE procedure and address any co-existing conditions.

The Microsurgery requires all women considering UFE to have the full benefit of an unbiased opinion. You can be referred to us by your gynaecologist, or if necessary, we can refer you to a gynaecologist who will assess your suitability for UFE and advise you if another treatment or indeed no treatment is necessary. They run independent practices and will always act and advise in your best interest.

All the specialists on our panel are extremely experienced in the assessment of fibroids and the post-operative care of women who have had an embolisation. 

Yes, it does. Small and large fibroids will die or infarct after UFE. Larger fibroids will not disappear when dead but they will shrink substantially.

The procedure has been performed for over 30 years. More than 100,000 women have had UFE with documented results. It has only recently become more widely available in South Africa although it is very well accepted in all developed countries as a first-line therapy for fibroids. UAE has been accepted by the major gynaecological and radiological associations of North America, Europe and Australia. It is funded by their private and public health systems.

UFE causes a deep cramping pain similar to a bad period pain. This is easily managed with the strong pain medication that we will provide in the ward and that we will provide to you when you are discharged from the hospital.

Small fibroids may disappear and occasionally the body will expel some fibroids after UFE. Most fibroids however remain in the uterus as small balls of scar tissue causing no further problems or discomfort.

UFE in South Africa has a similar cost to myomectomy and hysterectomy. The procedure is covered entirely by most South African Medical Aids. The Fibroid Treatment Clinic charges the current medical aid rate.

UFE stands for Uterine Fibroid Embolisation and UAE for Uterine Artery Embolisation. They both refer to the same procedure.

UFE has only recently become available in South African teaching hospitals. Due to limited resources and skill, it is unfortunately not that frequently performed. Therefore most gynaecologists in South Africa have had no or very limited exposure to UAE.

Only radiologists with the appropriate training in interventional radiology can perform the procedure in South Africa.

The vast majority of women require an overnight stay in hospital. Occasionally a second night is required if the fibroids are very large.

We usually suggest requesting sick leave for 2 weeks. After about a week you will be functioning almost normally.

As long as your CD4 count is above 200, we expect no complications and you will still be eligible for the UAE procedure.

There is approximately thirty minutes of anaesthetic prep time, approximately one hour for the actual procedure and then thirty minutes that the patient needs to stay in the theatre recovery for observation before going back to the ward.

No. For the UAE procedure, our anaesthetist puts our patients under conscious sedation. This means that you will be asleep but not ventilated. You will have no memory of the procedure.

The particles that are infused into the uterine arteries remain inside the uterus forever. They are specifically sized so that they cannot be displaced or shifted. They simply become incorporated into the uterus over time.

We routinely perform a Full Blood Count as many of our patients are extremely anaemic. Renal function is also checked to ensure safety with the intravenous contrast that we administer during the procedure.

UAE is proving to be a very effective treatment for adenomyosis, although it is not quite as effective as with fibroids. It offers significant relief for about 50% of women who undergo the procedure. Long-term results are not yet available but it is currently an accepted procedure in the UK under the National Health Service.