Am I a candidate for UFE fibroid treatment?

If you have symptomatic uterine fibroids and want to avoid major surgery, you are likely a good candidate for UFE. A consultation with our San Diego area specialists will confirm the best fibroid treatment for you.

Is UFE covered by insurance?

Yes, UFE is a widely recognized fibroid treatment covered by Medicare and most private insurance plans. Our team will handle benefit verification and pre-authorization.

How does UFE compare to hysterectomy?

UFE offers comparable symptom relief to a hysterectomy but preserves your uterus, involves no hospital stay, and has a much faster recovery time (about one week vs. 6-8 weeks ).

What areas do you serve for fibroid treatment?

From our offices in Oceanside and Escondido, we are proud to offer advanced fibroid treatment to women throughout San Diego County, including San Diego proper, La Jolla, Del Mar, and all surrounding communities.

Uterine Fibroid Treatment for San Diego County

Advanced, Uterus-Sparing Relief from Fibroid Symptoms

Uterine Fibroids: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options for San Diego County Women

Uterine fibroids are one of the most common conditions affecting women during their reproductive years. They are not cancer, and having them is not a sign that anything is wrong with your body. Fibroids are simply noncancerous growths that develop in the muscular wall of the uterus, and for many women they cause no symptoms at all. For others, though, fibroids can lead to heavy bleeding, pain, and pressure that meaningfully disrupt daily life.

This guide walks through what fibroids are, why they develop, how they’re diagnosed, and the full range of treatment options available today, so that women across San Diego County can make an informed decision about their care in partnership with a gynecologist or interventional specialist.

What Are Uterine Fibroids?

Fibroids, also known as leiomyomas, are the most common tumors of the female reproductive system. They form from the smooth muscle tissue of the uterus and can range from as small as a seed to as large as a grapefruit. A woman can have a single fibroid or many, and they can grow within the uterine wall, on its outer surface, or inside the uterine cavity itself, which affects the type of symptoms they cause.

Fibroids are extremely common. Estimates suggest that up to 70 to 80 percent of women will develop at least one fibroid by age 50, though many never know it, since so many fibroids never cause symptoms.

What Causes Uterine Fibroids?

The exact cause of fibroids isn’t fully understood, but research points to a combination of hormonal and genetic factors. Estrogen and progesterone, the hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle, appear to promote fibroid growth, which is part of why fibroids often shrink after menopause. Family history also plays a role, as does race, since fibroids are diagnosed more frequently, and often at a younger age, in Black women than in women of other backgrounds.

A Modern Approach to Fibroid Treatment in San Diego

Resolve Disruptive Symptoms

Our advanced fibroid treatment is designed to resolve the most common symptoms, including heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain and pressure, and bloating for patients in the San Diego area.

Avoid Major Surgery

UFE is a non-surgical, outpatient procedure that requires no large incisions. San Diego patients can expect to return to their normal routines in about a week, not the 6-8 weeks required for a hysterectomy.

Preserve Your Uterus

UFE is a clinically proven, uterus-sparing alternative to hysterectomy, giving women a powerful option to treat fibroids without removing the uterus

San Diego’s UFE Specialists

While many gynecologists offer surgery, our interventional radiologists are San Diego County’s experts in Uterine Fibroid Embolization, a highly specialized and effective fibroid treatment.

Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids

Many fibroids never cause noticeable symptoms and are found incidentally during a routine exam or imaging for another reason. When symptoms do occur, they often include:

Heavy, prolonged, or painful menstrual period.
Pelvic pain, pressure, or a feeling of fullness.
Frequent urination or difficulty fully emptying the bladder.
Pain in the lower back or legs.
An enlarged abdomen.
Constipation.

Symptoms often develop gradually, which means many women adjust their routines around them for months or years before seeking care. Left unaddressed, heavy or prolonged bleeding can also lead to anemia, so it’s worth having any of these symptoms evaluated, even if they seem manageable for now.

How Are Uterine Fibroids Diagnosed?

Diagnosis usually starts with a pelvic exam, during which a doctor may be able to feel irregularities in the shape of the uterus. From there, imaging is typically used to confirm the diagnosis and map the size and location of any fibroids, most commonly with:

A pelvic ultrasound, often the first imaging test used.
An MRI, which provides more detailed information about fibroid size, number, and location, especially useful when planning treatment.
In some cases, a hysteroscopy, which allows a doctor to view the inside of the uterus directly.

Treatment Options for Uterine Fibroids

Treatment for fibroids depends on symptom severity, fibroid size and location, and personal goals around fertility. There’s no single right answer for every woman.

Watchful Waiting

For fibroids that aren’t causing symptoms, many doctors recommend monitoring with periodic imaging rather than immediate treatment.

Medication

Hormone-regulating medications can help manage bleeding and pain, though they don't shrink fibroids permanently and symptoms often return once treatment stops.

Surgery (Myomectomy or Hysterectomy),

Myomectomy surgically removes fibroids while preserving the uterus. Hysterectomy removes the uterus entirely and is typically reserved for women who no longer wish to preserve fertility. Both require general anesthesia and a longer recovery than less invasive options.

Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE),

A non-surgical, uterus-sparing option that blocks blood flow to fibroids so they shrink naturally, with a faster recovery than surgery and none of the risks of a major operation.

Why San Diego County Women Are Increasingly Choosing UFE

Interest in uterine fibroid embolization has grown steadily across San Diego County as more women learn that lasting relief from fibroid symptoms doesn’t have to mean major surgery. Because UFE is performed entirely through a small puncture in the wrist or groin, it avoids the incisions, general anesthesia, and extended recovery time associated with a hysterectomy or myomectomy, while preserving the uterus for women who want that option.

If you’re exploring your treatment options, you can learn more about uterine fibroid embolization in Oceanside & Escondido, including how the procedure works, who’s a candidate, and what recovery looks like.

Finding Care for Fibroids in San Diego County

If you’re considering treatment for fibroids, it’s worth looking for a provider with specific experience in the option you’re interested in. For women exploring UFE, that means seeking out an interventional radiologist, a physician trained specifically in image-guided, minimally invasive procedures, rather than relying solely on a general gynecology practice that may not offer the procedure at all.

North County Vascular & Interventional is one of the few practices in the region with board-certified interventional radiologists specifically trained in UFE, with offices serving patients throughout San Diego County, including Oceanside and Escondido.

When to See a Doctor

Most fibroid symptoms develop gradually and aren’t a medical emergency, but certain signs warrant prompt evaluation, including very heavy bleeding that soaks through a pad or tampon within an hour, severe or sudden pelvic pain, or symptoms of anemia such as dizziness or shortness of breath. If you experience any of these, contact a doctor right away rather than waiting for a routine appointment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Uterine Fibroid Treatment

Are uterine fibroids cancerous?

No. Fibroids are noncancerous in more than 99 percent of cases. It’s extremely rare for a fibroid to be or become cancerous.

Can uterine fibroids affect fertility?

Depending on their size and location, fibroids can sometimes affect fertility or pregnancy, though many women with fibroids conceive and carry pregnancies without complications. If fertility is a concern, it’s worth discussing treatment options that preserve the uterus.

Do fibroids go away on their own?

Fibroids often shrink after menopause as hormone levels decline, but they typically don’t disappear on their own during a woman’s reproductive years.

How do I know which treatment option is right for me?

The right treatment depends on symptom severity, fibroid characteristics, and personal goals around fertility. A consultation with a specialist, whether a gynecologist or an interventional radiologist, is the best way to compare your options.

What areas of San Diego County do you serve?

Care for fibroids and UFE is available to residents throughout San Diego County, including Oceanside, Escondido, Carlsbad, San Marcos, Vista, Poway, Encinitas, and Temecula.

How can I schedule a consultation?

You can schedule a consultation with the specialists at North County Vascular & Interventional to discuss whether UFE or another treatment option is right for you.

Take the First Step Toward Relief

Uterine fibroids don’t have to define your daily routine. If you’re a San Diego County resident exploring your options, our team can help you understand whether a minimally invasive treatment like UFE is right for you.