For many women, living with fibroids means learning to work around them. Heavy periods become something to endure. Pelvic pain, bloating, fatigue, and frequent trips to the bathroom become part of the daily routine. Plans are made around menstrual cycles, discomfort is quietly tolerated, and symptoms that interfere with everyday life are too often accepted as normal.
But living with fibroids doesn’t have to mean living with their symptoms. And for many women, treatment no longer has to mean major surgery.
There is another option worth knowing about.
Dr. Mikhail Higgins, an interventional radiologist, is helping women explore a different approach to fibroid treatment through the Bahamas Fibroid & Interventional Clinic at Family Medicine Center.
One of the treatments he offers is Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE), also known as Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE), a minimally invasive procedure designed to shrink fibroids while preserving the uterus.
How Does It Work?
Fibroids depend on a blood supply to grow. UAE works by interrupting that supply.
Using advanced imaging technology, Dr. Higgins guides a tiny catheter through a small opening in the skin to the arteries feeding the fibroids. Microscopic particles are then introduced to block their blood flow, causing the fibroids to gradually shrink.
There is no large surgical incision, no removal of the uterus, and typically no need for general anesthesia.
For appropriately selected patients, the benefits can be significant. Studies show that approximately nine out of ten women experience substantial improvement in fibroid-related symptoms following embolization. Recovery is generally much shorter than with major surgery, although some cramping and discomfort are expected after the procedure.
UAE is not the right choice for everyone. Fibroid size and location, individual health circumstances, and future pregnancy plans all matter. Women hoping to conceive should discuss the potential effects on fertility, which remain uncertain, before choosing treatment.
Knowledge Changes Everything
Perhaps one of the greatest obstacles women face is simply not knowing what options are available.
A woman who has been told she needs a hysterectomy may not realize that uterus-preserving alternatives exist. Another may have lived with painful, heavy periods for years without knowing that effective treatment could offer relief.
Dr. Higgins believes women deserve to understand their choices and participate fully in decisions about their health.
And that’s exactly where the conversation begins.
Join the Conversation on November 4
Family Medicine Center and the Bahamas Fibroid & Interventional Clinic invite women to The F Word: Fibroids, Facts, Freedom, a special evening of dinner and open conversation with Dr. Mikhail Higgins.
Learn more about fibroids, separate facts from misconceptions, explore minimally invasive treatment options, and get answers to the questions that matter most to you.
Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | 6:30 PM
New Providence Community Church, Nassau
Admission and dinner are complimentary, but advance registration is required. Seating is limited to just 40 guests, and each attendee must register individually.
Register now at FMCbahamas.org/dinner
You don’t have to accept fibroid symptoms as a permanent part of your life. Understanding your options is the first step toward taking control.