Most doctors prefer surgical removal of the uterus as a treatment for fibroids, especially if there is more than one tumor, which frightens women and makes them refuse treatment. The use of innovative methods makes the treatment of fibroids in Israel one of the most sought-after procedures among patients from former Soviet Union countries.
Unfortunately, fibroids usually do not cause any symptoms, but can ultimately lead to infertility, disruption of bladder and gastrointestinal function, and anemia. By practicing complete removal of the uterus, doctors avoid recurrence of the disease and repeat intervention, but most women do not agree to removal of the reproductive organ, regardless of age, and continue to suffer from this disease.
Some time ago, advanced clinics in the USA and Europe, including Israeli medical centers, adopted a non-surgical method of treating fibroids, the so-called uterine artery embolization. The procedure does not require long hospitalization (typically, the patient is discharged home the next day) and is performed under local anesthesia. Using a catheter inserted through a small incision in the thigh and advanced into the femoral artery, the radiologist injects tiny particles of a substance into the uterine arteries, thereby blocking the supply of nutrients to the tumor.
The progress of the operation is monitored using imaging equipment, allowing the doctor to precisely locate the necessary vessel. Since the supply of nutrients to the tumor is blocked, it gradually shrinks and degenerates. The uniqueness of the method is that it can be performed even in cases where there is multiple growth of fibroids in the uterine cavity.
Almost 90% of women stop experiencing any pain after uterine artery embolization. Importantly, recurrence of the disease and return of pain syndrome have not been observed even in those patients who had multiple fibroids. The procedure has relatively low medical risks, but in rare cases side effects and complications may develop.
When applying innovative treatment of uterine fibroids, Israel proceeds from the principle that organ-preserving treatment is always preferable to resection. The patient's psychological state is as important for success as the correct treatment. If a patient falls into depression or experiences other negative consequences from treatment, this cannot be considered a medical success.
That is why Israeli doctors place emphasis on the overall condition of the woman after surgery. As practice shows, minimally invasive non-surgical interventions not only effectively cure diseases but also do not have a negative impact on the patients' psyche.
_