How do you embolize just the fibroids and not the whole uterus?
We do embolize the whole uterus. It is just that the arteries to the fibroids steal the majority of the incoming blood, so they get stopped-up with most of the particles we inject into the bloodstream. Also, the uterus has the ability to recruit blood from adjacent tissues, whereas the fibroids usually cannot. The first branch of the uterus usually supplies the cervix and vagina, as opposed to the uterus and fibroids. It is safe to embolize this branch, but it is also possible that blocking off this artery could result in decreased sensation and therefore less pleasurable sex. This subject is under investigation. If it is technically feasible to spare this branch we do so. None of our patients has reported sexual dysfunction after UFE.
