After suffering intense bleeding for two years, and tired of her doctor giving her only medicine for pain, real estate consultant Tara Ashley, , decided to get a second opinion. That led to an embolization procedure a few weeks ago to treat her uterine fibroids. In her follow-up visit, doctors found her much improved.

“I was desperate, I have three children and do a type of work that requires me to be mobile,” Ashley says. “Yet the intense bleeding, the clots and the pain interfered with my everyday life. Finally, I went to these doctors who treated me kindly, and several people took care of me and made me feel good.”

Ashley is referring to the multidiscipline team at South Miami Fibroid Center. Dr. Adam Ryan Geronemus, vascular and interventional radiologist and the center’s co-founder, says that a dedicated team focused especially on women’s needs offers everything at one site.

“We have various experts and trained personnel, from the nurse who takes calls from patients to the last technician or professional involved in treating patients,” he says. “Our objective is to guide patients step by step with delicacy, explaining the alternatives since we have different options for treating any problem.”

He makes clear that this is a real physical space and not a virtual consultation. “We have opened a center within the hospital so that women do not have to go from one place to another but instead find everything they need right here. For example, at the fibroid center, when we evaluate a patient a gynecology surgeon and a radiologist actually sit with her to discuss the best possible solution to her problem and allow her to ask all the questions she needs to ask,” Geronemus says.

Uterine fibroids are caused by various factors and, while some women do not show symptoms, complications could seriously interfere with everyday life in others.

Dr. Rafael Pérez, director of the Fibroid Center, says the symptoms can cause anemia and even spontaneous abortions. “An unusual bleeding can occur, as well as a severe menstrual colic; pain and pressure in the hips, pelvis and legs; pain during sex; expulsion of blood clots; menstrual periods lasting longer than normal; an inflamed abdomen; watery vaginal fluid; constipation; and frequent urination or urine retention even after having gone to the bathroom.”

Both experts agree about the importance of seeing a doctor and discussing alternatives to treatment of fibroids, considering that not all cases differ.

“We offer different alternatives, including hormonal therapy, endometrial ablation, laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy, laparoscopic or robotic hysterectomy (to remove the uterus in case there is no other option), and other surgical or drug treatment options,” Pérez said.

Another alternative is fibroid embolization. Dr. James Benenati, vascular and interventional radiologist at Baptist Cardiac & Vascular Institute. This procedure blocks the blood stream to the uterus through the uterine artery that feeds the uterus and fibroids.

“We look at the fibroid on an MRI and we perform the embolization, inserting a small catheter in the groin’s femoral artery all the way to the uterus. There we place small particles the size of sand grains that disintegrate the fibroid,” says Benenati.

The procedure is performed under sedation. “After six hours the patient feels well, she spends a day at the hospital and then goes home. Pain and urinary incontinence are reduced and sexual relations improve,” he says. Fibroids take about three months to shrink and are then absorbed or expelled by the body.

Doctors recommend seeing a physician upon abnormal bleeding or pain, and to always obtain a second opinion, especially if you are at a reproductive age. Also get information about the options that do not involve removal of the uterus.

For more information: South Miami Hospital’s Fibroid Center (786) 662-8602 or (786) 662-8585 or visit: www.CenteredOnMe.com, www.baptisthealth.net.