Many women suffer from fibroids, benign muscular tumors that grow in the uterus. Fibroids vary greatly in size and severity, ranging from a hardly-noticeable pea-size to the size of a grapefruit. While fibroids present few problems for many women, in others they can cause heavy menstrual periods, intense paid, and sometimes can lead to infertility.
For those women who do suffer from severe fibroids, there are three treatments. Doctors may remove the fibroid in a procedure called myomectomy, may perform a hysterectomy, or may choose fibroid embolization. Radiologist Kenneth Crystal of New York's St. Francis Hospital argues that the latter treatment is under-used. Crystal said that, despite the fact that risks from the procedure are few and results are consistent, very few doctors perform it and many gynecologists either aren't aware of it or don't recommend it.
The non-surgical procedure works by blocking the fibroid's access to a blood supply, limiting the tumor's growth and eventually causing it to die. Doctors block the blood flow by placing special particles in the targeted artery. The patient remains conscious throughout the procedure.
5/20/2013 Afghan Violence Against Women Law Blocked in Parliament - On Saturday, the Speaker of the Lower House of Afghan Parliament delayed a vote on the Elimination of Violence against Women law after two hours of vociferous debate between conservative religious and more liberal members of Parliament. . . .
5/20/2013 Walmart, American Retailers Refuse to Join Bangladesh Accord - Walmart, along with 13 other major North American companies, refused to sign a legally binding agreement to improve working conditions for overseas factory workers that manufacture their clothes after a garment factory collapsed in Bangladesh killing an estimated 1300 workers, the New York Times reports.
The agreement requires retailers pay $500,000 to improve worker safety measures over a five year period. . . .
