New uterine fibroid treatment now available
BROADACRES - A NEW, highly -effective, micro-invasive and permanent treatment for uterine fibroids is now available at Life Fourways Hospital.
Fibroids are benign growths that develop on the wall of the uterus causing heavy bleeding and intense period pain and, in some cases, infertility in women.
“Uterine fibroid embolisation, or UFE, is a relatively new treatment in South Africa but it is very well established overseas with more than 30 000 UFEs being performed a year in the United States alone,” said Dr Gary Sudwarts, an interventional radiologist working at the hospital.
“Large numbers of women’s lives are affected by uterine fibroids, but few are aware that they now have UFE available as a treatment option. This is particularly true for women who have been advised to have a hysterectomy for fibroid disease.”
Sudwarts said the availability of UFE locally is limited because it is a highly specialised procedure performed with the use of very sophisticated equipment.
“For these reasons the treatment is not currently available outside the major centres in South Africa. This is a pity because UFE is a safe and highly-effective treatment option. On average, almost 90 percent of women who have had the procedure experience significant or total relief from heavy bleeding, pain and bulk-related symptoms,” he said.
Uterine fibroids are growths that develop in the muscular wall of the uterus. Sudwarts said these growths are benign, or not cancerous, and develop in 20 percent to 40 percent of women aged 35 and older. Uterine fibroids are the most frequent cause of hysterectomy in pre-menopausal women and are therefore a major public health issue. Of the 600 000 hysterectomies performed annually in the United States, no fewer than one-third are due to uterine fibroids.
UFE is performed by an interventional radiologist who is a doctor specialising in minimally invasive, targeted treatments. This is a less risky procedure with less pain and a shorter recovery time when compared with open surgery.
Good news for South African women is that most medical aids are now paying for the procedure, so even more women will have access to it.
Details: www.fibroids.co.za; Dr Gary Sudwarts 011 484 0714; info@fibroids.co.za
