IR UpFront Fibroid facts
• Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a minimally invasive treatment for uterine fibroids. Through a tiny incision in the skin, an interventional radiologist uses a catheter to deliver particles that block the blood vessels leading to the fibroids, causing them to shrink or disappear.
• UFE avoids surgery, preserves the uterus, controls symptoms and improves quality of life.
• Studies show fibroids disproportionately impact Black women, with higher incidence and earlier onset.
Awareness in action
In 2019, SIR partnered with the Ibro- American Intervention Society (SIDI) to bring UFE awareness to Central America. According to Ethel Rivas Zuleta, MD, in 2018 her institution in El Salvador performed 746 hysterectomies, and six UAE procedures.
57%
Most women develop uterine fibroids by age of 50, but 57% of U.S. women do not think they are at risk.
1 in 5 (20%) of U.S. women believe the only treatment for uterine fibroids is hysterectomy.
In a three day giveback course at Hospital de Diagnóstico Escalón in El Salvador, SIR volunteers gave educational lectures, hosted open discussions with the local medical community, and supervised local students to perform three live UAE procedures.
In the year since this collaboration: • UAE procedures increased 100%
• The procedure has been included as an option in the academic program of the Gineco-Obstetrics Training Centers
• There has been nationwide coverage from newspapers and television
80% 46%
Up to 80% of Black women will develop fibroids over their lifetime.
46% of women diagnosed with
uterine fibroids who have heard of UFE did not first learn about the treatment from their OB-GYN.
• Gynecologists have been begun referring patients for UFE, rather than requiring patients to self-refer
Black women are 2.4x more likely to undergo hysterectomy.
1. 2017 Harris Poll conducted on behalf of the Society of Interventional Radiology.
2. Stewart EA, Nicholson WK, Bradley L, Borah BJ. The burden of uterine fibroids for African-American women: results of a national survey. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2013;22(10):807-816. doi:10.1089/ jwh.2013.4334
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