Uterine Fibroid Embolization

Symptoms and Treatment

Poster

Guide to Uterine Fibroids

Q & A

What are uterine fibroids?

Fibroid tumors are noncancerous (benign) growths that develop in the muscular wall of 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.

Who is most likely to have uterine fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are very common, although often they are very small and cause no problems. Between 20% to 40% of women age 35 and older have uterine fibroids of significant size.

What are the typical symptoms?

Depending on location, size and number of fibroids, they may cause:

• Heavy, prolonged menstrual periods and unusual monthly bleeding, sometimes with clots. This often leads to anemia.
• Pelvic pressure or heaviness
• Pain in the back or legs, and during sexual intercourse
• Bladder pressure leading to a constant urge to urinate
• Pressure on the bowel, leading to constipation and bloating
• Enlarged abdomen

How are uterine fibroids treated?

Most fibroids do not cause symptoms and are not treated. When they do cause symptoms, drug therapy often is the first step in the treatment. Fibroids often grow back after therapy is discontinued.

When drug therapy doesn’t work, a common minimally invasive treatment option is uterine fibroid embolization (UFE). UFE also represents a very interesting alternative to hysterectomies (the complete removal of the uterus).

How does UFE work?

UFE is a minimally invasive procedure, performed while a patient is conscious but sedated – drowsy and feeling no pain. UFE is performed by an interventional radiologist; a physician who is specially trained to perform this and other minimally invasive procedures, with the assistance of a team composed of medical radiation technologists and specialized nurses.

How successful is the fibroid embolization procedure?

Performed as a treatment since 1995, studies show that 78 to 94 percent of women who have the procedure experience significant or total relief of heavy bleeding, pain and other symptoms. The procedure also is effective for multiple fibroids. Recurrence of treated fibroids is very rare.

How to learn more about UFE?

This procedure is now available at hospitals and medical centers across the country. To find out more about UFE, please consult with your family doctor about uterine fibroid embolization.

List of facilities

Contact the following facilities only if your physician has confirmed that your symptoms are due to uterine fibroids.

Please note that the information contained on this page is intended solely for informational purposes and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The list provided here includes only members of the Canadian Association for Interventional Radiology (CAIR) who have indicated that they perform the specified procedure. It is important to understand that this is not a comprehensive list of all physicians or facilities capable of performing this procedure.

The names, physicians, and facilities listed are members of CAIR and have provided their information voluntarily. While we strive to keep this information up to date and accurate, CAIR does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information provided. The inclusion of any name in this list does not imply endorsement by CAIR or a recommendation of their services.

Patients are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified healthcare provider to make informed decisions about their health care. CAIR assumes no liability for any actions taken based on the information provided on this page, nor for any errors or omissions in the content. Use of this information is at your own risk.

For further inquiries or to verify the credentials and qualifications of a healthcare provider, please contact the appropriate licensing board or authority in your region.

Alberta

University of Calgary / Rockyiew General Hospital / Peter Lougheed Hospital
7007 14 St SW, Calgary, T2V1P9
T: 403-943-3316
F: 403-592-4852
Dr. Mirakhur Ani
Dr. Richard Cormack

University of Calgary
3883 Front Street SE, Calgary, T3M2J6
T: 403-210-9980
F: 403-210-9046
Dr. Cori Caughlin

Foothills Medical Centre
1403 29th St. NW, Calgary, T2N2T9
T: 403-944-4634
F: 403-944-1687
Dr. Jason Wong
Dr. Stefan Przybojewski

Rockyview General Hospital
120, 6707, Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, T2V0E3
T: 403- 777-3003
F: 403-777-3008
Dr. Halliwell Oliver

Vascular and Interventional Radiologists of Northern Alberta 
#201 2377 111 St NW, Edmonton,T6J 5E5
T: 780-425-8717
F: 780-392-1260
Dr. Brad Hnatiuk
Dr. Chris Plewes
Dr. Rohan Parab
Dr. Richard Owen
Dr. Kiran Reddy
Dr. Rahim Samji
Dr. Navi Shergill
Dr. Gill Shiau
Dr. Harneil Sidhu

British Columbia

Kelowna General Hospital
2268 Pandosy St, Kelowna,V1Y1T2
T: 250-862-4454
Dr. Brooke Cairns
Dr. Nevin de Korompay

Royal Columbian Hospital
330 East Columbia Street, New Westminster, V3L 3W7
T: 604 520-4253
Dr. Zameer Hirji

Royal Inland Hospital
311 Columbia St., Kamloops, V2C2T1
T: 250-374-5111
Dr. Regan Rosemary
Dr. Michael Burns

UBC Hospital 
2211 Wesbrook Mall, Dept Radiology, Vancouver, V6T 2B5
T: 604-822-1799
Dr. Anastasia Hadjivassiliou
Dr. David Liu
Dr. Gerald Legiehn
Dr. Lindsay Machan
Dr. Stephen Ho 

Victoria General Hospital 
1 Hospital Way, Victoria, V8Z 6R5
T: 250- 727-4208
Dr. Jacobus Kritzinger

Manitoba

St Boniface General Hospital
409 Tache Avenue, Winnipeg, R2H 2A6
T: 204-237-2526
F:204-237-7439
Dr. Siuchan Sookhoo
Dr. Dhaliwal Surinder

Health Sciences Centre
JM-330, 820 Sherbrook Street, Winnipeg, R3A 1R9
T: 204-87-7620
F:787-3193
Dr. Alessandra Cassano-Bailey
Dr. Kulbisky Gordon
Dr. Stephanie Dyck

New Brunswick

Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital
1006 Forest Hill Rd, Fredericton, E3B7G6
T: 506-452-5735
Dr. Ram Galwa

Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre
330 Université Ave, Moncton, New Brunswick E1C 2Z3
Dr. Jordan Court T: 506-862-4000 | email: Jordan.Court@vitalitenb.ca

The Moncton Hospital
135 Macbeath Avenue, Moncton, E1C6Z8
T: 506-380-3831
Dr. Aman Wadhwani

Newfoundland and Labrador

Health Science Center
300 Prince Phillip Dr., St John’s, A1B3V6
T: 709-777-7104
Dr. Melissa Skanes

Nova Scotia

Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Section of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Halifax
T: 902-473-5327
Dr. Bob Abraham
Dr. Rob Berry
Dr. Peter Brown
Dr. John Heelan
Dr. Chris Lightfoot
Dr. Mike Rivers-Bowerman

Cape Breton Regional Hospital
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Sydney
T: 902-567-6281
Dr. Greg Ramjas

Ontario

Humber River Hospital
1235 Wilson Ave, Toronto, M3M0B2
T: 416- 242-1000
F: 416- 242-1078
Dr. Edwin Zhang
Dr. Remon Elyas

Kingston Health Sciences Centre
76 Stuart St., Kingston, K7M2V7
Dr. Ben Mussari T: 613- 548-2301
Dr. Alexandre Menard T: 613-549-6666 ext. 4902 | F: 613-548-2413 | email: Alexandre.Menard@kingstonhsc.ca

Lakeridge Health Oshawa
1 Hospital Court, Oshawa, L1G 2B9
T: 905- 433-4305
T: 905-686-6411, ext. 33527
vir@lh.ca
Dr. Andy Myers
Dr. Sean Galante

Markham Stouffville Hospital
381 Church St, Markham, L3P7P3
T: 905-472-7000
Dr. Sundeep Toor

Mount Sinai Hospital
563-600 University Ave, Toronto, M5G1X5
T: 416-586-4800, ext 4666
F: 416-586-8695
Dr. Rob Beecroft

Niagara Health
1200 Fourth Avenue, St. Catharines, L7S2E1
T: 905-398-4647
Dr. Deif Hassan

North York General Hospital
4001 Leslie St, Toronto, M2K1E1
T: 416-756-6186
F: 416-756-6095
Dr. Deif Hassan

Oakville Trafalgar Hospital
3001 Hospital Gate, Oakville, L6M0L8
T: 905-845-2571
Dr. Anshu Rajput

Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital
170 Colborne St W, Orillia, L3V2Z3
Dr. Ashish Mahajan

Ottawa Hospital
501 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, K1H8L6
T: 613-737-8212
F: 613-737-8855
Dr. Adnan Hadziomerovic
Dr. Karl Smyth

Peterborough Regional Health Centre
1 Hospital Drive, Peterborough, K9J7C6
T: 705-743-2121 ext 5188
Dr. Kebby King

Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre
201 Georgian Dr., Barrie, L4M6M2
T: 705- 722-8036
F: 705- 739-5649
Dr. Arshdeep Sidhu

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center
2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto, M4N3M5
T: 416-480-6100 ext 2363
F: 480-4841
Dr. Lawlor Raymond

Toronto Western Hospital
399 Bathurst St., Toronto, M5T4S8
T: 416-603-6276
F: 416-603-5247
Dr. Martin Simons

Trillium Health Partners
2200 Eglinton Av. West, Mississauga, L5M2N1
T: 905-813-1100
F: 905-813-3042
Dr. Emilio Rodriguez-Marin

Trillium Health Partners
100 Queensway W, Mississauga, L5B1B8
F: 905-848-7349
Dr. Niamh Coffey

Unity Health Toronto – St. Michael’s Hospital
30 Bond Street, Toronto, Ontario M5B 1W8
T: 416-864-6060 ext 6596
F: 416-864-5037
Dr. Andrew Brown

University Health Network
585 University Avenue, Toronto, M5G2N2
T: 416-603-6276
F: 416-603-5522
Dr. Sebastian Mafeld

Victoria Hospital-London Health Sciences Centre
C2-200 Victoria Hospital 800 Commissioners Road East, London, N6A5W9
T: 519-685-8500
F: 519-667-6872
Dr. Amol Mujoomdar
Dr. Derek Cool
Dr. Leandro Leite

Windsor Regional Hospital
1030 Ouellette Ave, Windsor, N9A1E1
T: 519-254-5577
Dr. Jamil Addas
Dr. Matthew Rochon
Dr. P. Jacob Thomas

Quebec

Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal
1000 St Denis, Montreal, H2X0C1
T: 514-890-8444 (Dr. Gilles Soulez) | T: 514-890-8450 (Dr. Marie-France Giroux)
F: 514-412-7481 (Dr. Gilles Soulez) | F: 514-412-7481 (Dr. Marie-France Giroux)
Dr. Marie-France Giroux
Dr. Gilles Soulez

Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Sherbrooke
3001, 12 eme avenue Nord, Sherbrooke,  J1H5N1
T: 819-346-1110 ext 14964
Dr. Andrew Benko
Dr. Gérald Gahide

CHU de Québec – Hôpital Enfant Jésus
1401 18e Rue, Québec, Quebec, G1J 1Z4
T: 418-525-4444, ext. 63680
Dr. Jean-Nicolas Racicot

CHU de Québec | Hôpital Saint-François d’Assise
10 Rue de l’Espinay, G1L3L5
T: 418-525-4444
Dr. Catherine Lalonde

Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de l’Est-de-l’Île-de-Montréal
Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont
5415 Assumption Blvd, Montreal, H1T2M4
T: 514-252-3400 ext 6159
F: 514- 252-3547
Dr. Véronique Caty
Dr. Alexandre Cengarle-Samak
Dr. Nicolas Voizard

CIUSSS MCQ – CHAUR
1991 Boul du Carmel, Trois-Rivieres, Québec G8Z 3R9
T: 819-697-3333
Dr. Mathieu Malenfant

Hôpital Charles-Lemoyne
3120 Taschereau Blvd, Greenfield Park, Quebec J4V 2H1
T: 450-466-5000 ext 2534
F: 450-466-5896
Dr. Alexandre Cengarle-Samak

Hôpital Pierre-Boucher
1333 Boulevard Jacques-Cartier E, Longueuil, J4M2A5
Dr. Francis Rivest T: 450-468-8111 ext 82853 | F: 450-468-8079
Dr.  Maxime Tremblay T: 450-468-8111 ext 82960

Hôtel-Dieu de Lévis
143 rue Wolf, Lévis, G6V3Z1
T: 418- 835-7101
Dr. André Renaud

McGill University Health Centre
1001 Decarie Blvd, Montreal, H4A3J1
T: 514-934-4454
F: 514-843-2893
Dr. David Valenti
Dr. Louis-Martin Boucher

Saskatchewan

Regina General Hospital
1440 14th Avenue, Saskatoon, S4P0W5
T: 306-766-6552
Dr. Mohammed Nayeemuddin

Other resources

The uterine fibroid checklist – Society of Interventional Radiology
Embolization for uterine fibroids – CIRSE
Uterine Fibroid Embolization – Cedars-Sinai
Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) – Radiologyinfo.org
The Interventional Initiative