Uterine Fibroid Treatment in Nashville & Murfreesboro

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If heavy periods, pelvic pressure, or constant bloating are shaping your days, you have more choices than surgery. Uterine Fibroid Embolization, or UFE, is a non-surgical treatment that shrinks fibroids and relieves symptoms while leaving your uterus in place. It is performed right here in our Murfreesboro office, and most women go home the same day.



We are an interventional radiology practice, which means minimally invasive, image-guided treatment is our entire focus, not a sideline. If a hysterectomy has been presented as your only path, it is worth a second opinion before you agree to major surgery. Our board-certified interventional radiologists treat women from across Murfreesboro, Rutherford County, greater Nashville, and rural Middle Tennessee.

What Is Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE)?

Uterine fibroids are common, non-cancerous growths that develop in the muscular wall of the uterus. You might also hear them called leiomyomas or myomas. Many women have them and never notice. For others, the size or position of a fibroid leads to real problems: heavy bleeding, pain, and pressure that wear on daily life.



UFE, sometimes called uterine artery embolization, is a minimally invasive procedure recognized by the Society of Interventional Radiology as a safe and effective alternative to surgery. During the procedure, your interventional radiologist blocks the tiny arteries that feed your fibroids. Cut off from their blood supply, the fibroids soften, shrink, and stop causing symptoms. Your uterus stays intact, and roughly nine out of ten women feel significant or complete relief.

Signs You May Need Fibroid Treatment in Murfreesboro

Not every fibroid needs treatment. When symptoms do show up, they tend to look like this:

•       Heavy or long periods, sometimes with clots, which can lead to anemia.

•       Pelvic pain and a feeling of pressure or fullness.

•       Pain in the lower back or legs.

•       Pain during intercourse.

•       Frequent urge to urinate from pressure on the bladder.

•       Constipation and bloating from pressure on the bowel.

•       A swollen or enlarged abdomen.

If any of these sound familiar, an evaluation is the next step. You can read more about fibroid symptoms from the National Library of Medicine, then talk with our team about whether UFE fits your situation.

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How UFE Works: What to Expect at Our Nashville-Area Office

UFE is a same-day, outpatient procedure. Here is how the process usually goes from start to finish.

1. Consultation and imaging.

You meet with our interventional radiologist to review your symptoms, history, and any records. Many women have already had an ultrasound. We often use MRI as well, because it gives a clearer view of your fibroids and confirms whether UFE is the right treatment for you.

2. Preparing for the procedure.

UFE is done using local anesthesia and light sedation, so you stay comfortable and relaxed. There is no general anesthesia and no large incision.

3. The embolization.

Through a tiny nick at the wrist or groin, your radiologist guides a thin catheter to the arteries feeding the fibroids. Using live imaging, they release small particles that block those vessels. In most cases both uterine arteries are treated. The incision is so small it needs no stitches.

4. Recovery and going home.

Patients typically rest for about four hours and then head home the same day. Cramping is common in the first 72 hours, and we manage it with medication. A nurse calls the next day to check on you, and we schedule follow-up visits at 2 to 4 weeks, 6 months, and one year.

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UFE vs. Hysterectomy vs. Myomectomy

Most women want to understand every option before choosing. Here is how the main fibroid treatments compare.

Treatment What it does Anesthesia Keeps your uterus? Typical recovery
UFE (embolization) Blocks blood flow so fibroids shrink Local, light sedation Yes A few days to about two weeks
Myomectomy Surgically removes the fibroids Usually general Yes Two to six weeks
Hysterectomy Removes the uterus entirely General No Around six weeks
Medication Manages symptoms with hormones None Yes No procedure, symptoms often return

A few honest points. Medication can quiet symptoms, but it does not remove fibroids, and the symptoms usually come back once you stop. Hysterectomy is permanent and effective, but it is major surgery and ends the chance of pregnancy. If keeping your uterus matters to you, UFE and myomectomy are the two options worth discussing. UFE is the only one on this list that treats fibroids with no surgery at all.

Are You a Candidate for UFE?

UFE is a strong fit for many women in the Nashville and Murfreesboro area, but not everyone. You may be a good candidate if:

01

You have symptomatic fibroids and want relief.

02

You want to avoid surgery and keep your uterus.

03

You have been offered a hysterectomy but would rather try something less invasive first.

04

Medication has not controlled your symptoms.

UFE may not be the right first choice if you are actively trying to become pregnant, if your symptoms come from something other than fibroids, or if certain fibroid types are present. The only way to know for sure is an evaluation, and we will always tell you honestly if another path would serve you better.

Cost & Insurance

UFE is an FDA-approved treatment and is covered by many insurance plans. Coverage and out-of-pocket cost depend on your specific plan and benefits. Our team verifies your coverage before your procedure and walks you through what to expect, so there are no surprises. You can review the plans we work with on our insurance page, or call us and we will help sort it out.

Why Choose Murfreesboro Vascular & Interventional

Fibroids are not a side specialty for us. Treating them without surgery is core to what we do. Our physicians, Dr. Steven Thomas and Dr. Brett Donegan, are board-certified interventional radiologists who use the same image-guided techniques behind our other minimally invasive treatments, from prostate artery embolization to vein care. That focus means clear explanations, honest guidance, and a treatment plan built around your goals.



You do not have to take our word for it. Read what patients say in our testimonials, then decide for yourself.

Highly effective, widely available Interventional Radiology Treatment often replaces need for Hysterectomy

Uterine fibroids are very common non-cancerous (benign) growths that develop in the muscular wall of the uterus. They can range in size from very tiny (a quarter of an inch) to larger than a cantaloupe. Occasionally, they can cause the uterus to grow to the size of a five-month pregnancy. In most cases, there is more than one fibroid in the uterus. While fibroids do not always cause symptoms, their size and location can lead to problems for some women, including pain and heavy bleeding.

Fibroids can dramatically increase in size during pregnancy. This is thought to occur because of the increase in estrogen levels during pregnancy. After pregnancy, the fibroids usually shrink back to their pre-pregnancy size. They typically improve after menopause when the level of estrogen, the female hormone that circulates in the blood, decreases dramatically. However, menopausal women who are taking supplemental estrogen (hormone replacement therapy) may not experience relief of symptoms.

Uterine fibroids are the most common tumors of the female genital tract. You might hear them referred to as “fibroids” or by several other names, including leiomyoma, leiomyomata, myoma and fibromyoma. Fibroid tumors of the uterus are very common, but for most women, they either do not cause symptoms or cause only minor symptoms.

Subserosal Fibroids
These develop under the outside covering of the uterus and expand outward through the wall, giving the uterus a knobby appearance. They typically do not affect a woman’s menstrual flow, but can cause pelvic pain, back pain and generalized pressure. The subserosal fibroid can develop a stalk or stem-like base, making it difficult to distinguish from an ovarian mass. These are called pedunculated. The correct diagnosis can be made with either an ultrasound or magnetic resonance (MR) exam.

Intramural Fibroids
These develop within the lining of the uterus and expand inward, increasing the size of the uterus, and making it feel larger than normal in a gynecologic internal exam. These are the most common fibroids. Intramural fibroids can result in heavier menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain, back pain or the generalized pressure that many women experience.

Submucosal Fibroids
These are just under the lining of the uterus. These are the least common fibroids, but they tend to cause the most problems. Even a very small submucosal fibroid can cause heavy bleeding – gushing, very heavy and prolonged periods.

Prevalence of Uterine FibroidsTwenty to 40 percent of women age 35 and older have uterine fibroids of a significant size. African American women are at a higher risk for fibroids: as many as 50 percent have fibroids of a significant size. Uterine fibroids are the most frequent indication for hysterectomy in premenopausal women and, therefore, are a major public health issue. Of the 600,000 hysterectomies performed annually in the United States, one-third are due to fibroids.


Uterine Fibroid Symptoms

Most fibroids don’t cause symptoms—only 10 to 20 percent of women who have fibroids require treatment. Depending on size, location and number of fibroids, they may cause:

 

  • Heavy, prolonged menstrual periods and unusual monthly bleeding, sometimes with clots. This can lead to anemia.
  • Pelvic pain and pressure
  • Pain in the back and legs
  • Pain during sexual intercourse
  • Bladder pressure leading to a frequent urge to urinate
  • Pressure on the bowel, leading to constipation and bloating
  • Abnormally enlarged abdomen

 


Imaging Expertise Enables Interventional Radiologists to Provide Gynecologists

and Their Patients Better Diagnosis and Nonsurgical Treatment Options

Women typically undergo an ultrasound at their gynecologist’s office as part of the evaluation process to determine the presence of uterine fibroids. It is a rudimentary imaging tool for fibroids that often does not show other underlying diseases or all the existing fibroids. For this reason, MRI is the standard imaging tool used by interventional radiologists.


Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) improves the patient selection for who should receive nonsurgical uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) to kill their tumors. Interventional radiologists can use MRIs to determine if a tumor can be embolized, detect alternate causes for the symptoms, identify pathology that could prevent a women from having UFE and avoid ineffective treatments. Using an MRI rather than ultrasound is like listening to a digital CD rather than a record – the quality is better in every way. By working with a patient’s gynecologist, interventional radiologists can use MRIs to enhance the level of patient care through better diagnosis, better education, better treatment options and better outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions
About Fibroid Treatment

  • Is UFE Covered By Insurance?

    UFE is FDA-approved and covered by many insurance plans. Coverage depends on your specific plan and benefits. Our team verifies your coverage before the procedure and explains any out-of-pocket cost in advance.

  • Will I still have my uterus after UFE?

    Yes. UFE treats fibroids by shrinking them, and your uterus stays intact. That is one of the main reasons women choose it over a hysterectomy.

  • How long is recovery after UFE?

    Most women go home about four hours after the procedure. Cramping is common in the first 72 hours, and many people are back to light activity within a few days and fully recovered within roughly two weeks.

  • Is UFE painful?

    The procedure is done with local anesthesia and light sedation, so you stay comfortable throughout. The most common discomfort is cramping in the first few days, which we manage with medication.

  • How effective is UFE?

    On average, 85 to 90 percent of women experience significant or complete relief from heavy bleeding, pain, and pressure. Treated fibroids rarely come back.

  • Can I have UFE if I want to get pregnant in the future?

    This is an important conversation to have with your physician. For women planning a future pregnancy, surgical removal of fibroids is often recommended first, though UFE may be an option in some cases. We will review your goals and give you honest guidance during your consultation.

  • Do I need a referral to be seen?

    A referral is helpful but not always required. If your gynecologist is referring to you, we work directly with their office. If you are reaching out on your own, call us and we will guide you through the next steps.

  • Where are you located, and do you serve Nashville?

    Our office is at 1840 Medical Center Parkway, Suite 200, in Murfreesboro. We treat women from across Rutherford County, the greater Nashville area, and rural Middle Tennessee.

Schedule Your Consultation

You do not have to live with fibroid symptoms, and you do not have to jump straight to surgery. Call us at (615) 908-6066 or request a consultation online to find out whether UFE is right for you.

See our location and patient reviews on Google: Uterine Fibroid Treatment in Murfreesboro.

UFE Facts


  • On average, 85-90 percent of women who have had the procedure experience significant or total relief of heavy bleeding, pain and/or bulk-related symptoms.


  • Recurrence of treated fibroids is very rare. Short and mid-term data show UFE to be very effective with a very low rate of recurrence. Long-term (10-year) data are not yet available, but in one study in which patients were followed for six years, no fibroid that had been embolized regrew.


  • An estimated 13,000-14,000 UFE procedures are performed annually in the U.S. (as of 2004)


  • Embolization has been used to treat tumors since 1966. Embolization to treat uterine fibroids has been performed since 1995 and the embolic particles are approved by the FDA specifically to treat uterine fibroid tumors, based on comparative trials showing similar efficacy with less serious complications compared to hysterectomy and myomectomy (the surgical removal of fibroids).


  • Embolization of fibroids was first used as an adjunct to help decrease blood loss during myomectomy. To the surprise of the initial users of this method, many patients had spontaneous resolution of their symptoms after only the embolization and no longer needed the surgery.

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