Uterine Fibroid Treatment in Minneapolis

For many women, fibroid symptoms don’t start all at once- they build slowly over time. They can start as heavier periods, then build into fatigue, and eventually turn into a growing sense that something isn’t right.

That was the case for Jennifer, a woman in her mid-40s whose monthly cycle had become so severe that it disrupted her ability to work, care for her family, and live normally. At its worst, she was dealing with prolonged bleeding, intense pain, and exhaustion that left her homebound for days each month.*

Unfortunately, her experience isn’t uncommon. In fact, up to 70–80% of women will develop uterine fibroids by age 50, yet many spend years searching for answers, or are told surgery is their only option.¹

After seeking medical care, Jennifer learned she had a large fibroid causing her symptoms. Like many women, she was presented with a familiar recommendation: hysterectomy.

While effective, this approach can feel overwhelming, especially for women who:

• Want to preserve their uterus
• Can’t take weeks off for recovery
• Are looking for less invasive solutions

Jennifer hesitated to proceed. Could she really go through with something that was so deeply physically and emotionally part of her?

After pushing for alternatives, Jennifer came across Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE), a minimally invasive procedure for uterine fibroid treatment performed by an interventional radiologist.

Unlike surgery, UFE does not remove the uterus.

Instead, it works by:

• Using a small catheter (through the wrist or groin)
• Delivering tiny particles to block blood flow to fibroids
• Causing them to shrink over time²

For Jennifer, this option offered something she hadn’t been given before: a choice!

Following UFE, Jennifer noticed changes sooner than expected.

Within days, she was back on her feet. Over time, her symptoms improved dramatically:

• Reduced bleeding
• Relief from pelvic pressure and pain
• Increased energy

For many patients, UFE offers meaningful symptom relief with a significantly shorter recovery time than surgery.³ Her story highlights a key reality- many women are never told about all of their options.

Jennifer’s experience mirrors what many women in Minneapolis face- living with fibroid symptoms while navigating limited or incomplete information about uterine fibroid treatment options.

At North Star Vascular & Interventional, this is something our physicians see regularly.

Patients often come in after:

• Being told hysterectomy is their only solution
• Living with symptoms longer than they should
• Not realizing minimally invasive options are available locally

At North Star, UFE is performed by specialists in image-guided procedures, including Dr. Jafar Golzarian and Dr. Amin Astani. Their focus is on treatments that avoid major surgery, reduce recovery time, and preserve the uterus.

For the right candidate, UFE may be a strong alternative to traditional surgical approaches.

While every patient is different, UFE may be considered for women who:

• Experience heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding
• Have pelvic pain or pressure from fibroids
• Want to avoid or delay surgery
• Prefer a shorter recovery period

If you’re interested in learning if UFE is appropriate for you based on your specific condition and goals, or simply trying to better understand your condition and options, please schedule a consult with our fibroid specialists at northstarfibroidclinic.com/contact/.

References (MLA)

1. Stewart, Elizabeth A., et al. “Uterine Fibroids.” The Lancet* vol. 393, no. 10180, 2019, pp. 293–304.
2. Society of Interventional Radiology. “Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE).” SIR Patient Center, http://www.sirweb.org.
3. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “Uterine Fibroids.” ACOG, http://www.acog.org.
4. Society for Women’s Health Research. Jennifer’s Uterine Fibroids Journey. 12 June 2024.

*This article includes a patient story adapted from content originally published by the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR).