Few Women Aware of Uterine Fibroid Embolization as an Option

Almost half of women diagnosed with uterine fibroids have never heard of uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), and less than half of those who were familiar with the procedure learned about it from their obstetrician/gynecologist, according to a new survey.

The survey, conducted by the Harris Poll for the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR), revealed many gaps in knowledge, and misperceptions, according to Janice Newsome, MD, an interventional radiologist at the Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.

“What we found was surprising,” said Dr Newsome in a briefing about the survey.

Citing data from the National Institutes of Health, the SIR said in a news release that 75% of women will develop uterine fibroids by age 50 years. Those at increased risk are women who are overweight, are African American, are older than age 40 years, have high blood pressure, have had no children, and have first-degree relatives with fibroids.

Read more Medscape by Alicia Ault, Few Women Aware of Uterine Fibroid Embolization as an Option.