INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Fibroids are non-cancerous growths in the uterus that can cause heavy bleeding, pain, and difficulty getting pregnant. They are the most common type of tumor in women of reproductive age, affecting up to 80% of women. According to the National Institutes of Health, 20% of women will require surgery, and a hysterectomy is the most common type of surgery performed, but there are solutions that are hysterectomy-free.

Six months ago, Angela Lamondi struggled to walk her dog, Max. A four-inch uterine fibroid was causing pain, excessive bleeding, and was putting pressure on her bladder. She was given two options. The first was cut it out, with a risk of excessive blood loss.

“The first opinion told me to just simply have a hysterectomy, which I thought was a bit invasive for my age,” said Angela.

“The uterus is just not a disposable organ,” said Dr. Robert Vogelzang, MD, an interventional radiologist at Northwestern Medicine. “It’s felt to be that way by many American physicians, and they’re just wrong.”

Vogelzang teamed up with surgeons to combine two procedures to preserve Angela’s uterus.

“The fibroid was best treated by removal, but first, by taking away its blood supply with the procedure that I do.” said Vogelzang.

Vogelzang first blocks off the blood supply to the fibroid, causing it to shrink, then the surgeons performed a myomectomy and removed the tumor. Using the combination, Angela lost less than a tablespoon of blood, compared to about 25 ounces just doing the myomectomy itself.

“If a woman is told the hysterectomy is her only option, she should absolutely get a second opinion,” said Vogelzang.

Angela is happy she did, saving her uterus and relieving her pain.

“Feeling really good, feeling really good,” said Angela.

Saving the uterus is not only important for women who still want to have children, but removing it is also associated with pelvic floor dysfunction, urinary incontinence, premature menopause, and declines in sexual function.

This story was created from a script aired on WISH-TV. Health Spotlight is presented by Community Health Networks.