Sign up for our daily briefing
Make your busy days simpler with Axios AM/PM. Catch up on what's new and why it matters in just 5 minutes.
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Catch up on coronavirus stories and special reports, curated by Mike Allen everyday
Denver news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Denver
Des Moines news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Des Moines
Minneapolis-St. Paul news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Twin Cities
Tampa Bay news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Tampa Bay
Charlotte news in your inbox
Catch up on the most important stories affecting your hometown with Axios Charlotte
Javier Galeano/AP
A new study found that a minimally invasive procedure may improve fertility for women who are unable to conceive due to uterine fibroids, The Washington Post reports. Fibroids can be destroyed by cutting their supply of blood from arteries — a procedure that is sometimes avoided because it can also limit blood flow to the uterus and ovaries, and risk infertility.
Uterine fibroids are abnormal tissue masses that line the wall of the uterus. This is usually treated with surgery to cut through to the uterus and remove the fibroids, but this may have complications that can lead to a hysterectomy. The alternative is a uterine fibroid embolization, the destruction of the fibroids by blocking the arteries that supply them with blood. Though less invasive, some doctors avoid this because it may restrict blood flowing to the uterus and ovaries.
The study: Researchers at the New University of Lisbon followed 359 women for nearly six years after they had a uterine fibroid embolization. At the end of the study, 42% of the women conceived, 79% had an improvement in fibroid-related symptoms, and 131 women gave live births.
One quick thing: The researchers note that the embolizations were done at a single site in Portugal, which opens the possibility for differing results if the procedures were done at multiple hospitals. However, they believe the results suggest good reason for women to consider this option, especially to avoid possible hysterectomies.