The Effect of Uterine Artery Embolization on Heavy Menstrual Bleeding in Patients with Leiomyomata

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effect of uterine artery embolization and medical management on heavy menstrual
bleeding in patients managed for uterine fibroids.
Study Design: Comparative Cross-sectional Study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Pak
Emirates Military Hospital (PEMH) Rawalpindi, Pakistan fromAugust 2021 to March 2023.
Methods: Women between the ages of 35 and 50 years who presented with heavy menstrual bleeding and
were diagnosed with leiomyomata were included in this study. They were divided into two groups via block
randomization. Group-I underwent uterine artery embolization while group-II received medical treatment
(gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist). Clinical factors like shrinkage in the size of fibroids, rise
in hemoglobin levels, and pelvic pain scores were compared in both groups at the end of three months.
Results: Out of 160 women recruited in the study, 52 (32.5%) were pre-menopausal, while 108 (67.5%) were
peri menopausal. The mean age of patients who presented with heavy menstrual bleeding due to leiomyomata
was 45.23 ±12.70 years. The mean rise in hemoglobin (p-value-0.007) and mean shrinkage size (p-value<0.001)
were statistically significantly found more in patients who underwent uterine artery embolization as compared
to those who took medical treatment. The mean pain score (p-value-0.01) was also found to be more in a group
of patients who underwent uterine artery embolization.
Conclusion: Uterine artery embolization emerged as an effective procedure for women managed for heavy
menstrual bleeding due to uterine fibroids. Medical management via gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
antagonist was inferior in efficacy in terms of mean rise in hemoglobin and fibroid shrinkage.

How to cite this: Khan S, Ahmad M, Mirza ZA, Sheraz A, Tariq M. The Effect of Uterine Artery Embolization on Heavy Menstrual Bleeding in Patients with Leiomyomata. Life and Science. 2024; 5(1): 27-32. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.475