For nearly 25 million American women, uterine fibroids are often an unfortunate part of daily life. Fibroids are benign tumors in the walls of the uterus, and they can cause symptoms ranging from the uncomfortable to the debilitating. Most women with fibroids suffer from very heavy menstrual periods, leading to weakness or even anemia requiring blood transfusions. Fibroids can also compress the bladder, causing frequent urination, or even abdominal disfigurement.

There are several treatment options for fibroids, including:

Surgery

Options are hysterectomy (removing the uterus) or myomectomy (removing the fibroids). However, both are serious procedures and have longer recovery time.

Hormonal treatments

These can often shrink fibroids, but as soon as the therapy stops, fibroids often come back.

Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE)

UFE uses a catheter to insert tiny biocompatible particles into the blood vessels that feed the fibroid.
The particles choke the blood supply, and the fibroids, over time, shrink up to 70% and sometimes more.
UFE is minimally invasive requiring sedation and a tiny incision in the patient’s groin to insert the catheter.
The recovery time is days, as opposed to weeks with a hysterectomy or myomectomy.
Side effects are minimal.

Good Samaritan Hospital is the only facility in Rockland County that offers UFE, under the direction of Scott Luchs, MD, Director of Interventional Radiology, who works in collaboration with the patient’s gynecologist.

“When a patient has a chronic problem, she often changes her whole life to work around it,” says Dr. Luchs. “Now imagine not having that problem anymore. All of a sudden, she’s free, and it’s wonderful.”

Hours and appointments

Good Samaritan Hospital Angiography Suite (First floor of the hospital)
255 Lafayette Avenue, Suffern, NY 10901
Open Monday thru Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For appointments and insurance inquiries: 866.596.8456