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Information for Physicians

Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE)

Information about UFE for women in and around San Antonio, Texas.

"uterine fibroid embolization...has changed my life in so many positive ways and I still have the possibility of having children in the future."

**"safe and effective"**

American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG) position on UFE

This site complies to the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.

Nside Magazine M.D. does feature on Dr. Thomas, fibroids, and the IRC

Looking for a non-surgical method of permanent birth control?

My name is Dr. John Thomas. I am a member of South Texas Radiology Group; serving San Antonio, Texas, and the surrounding area. I am an interventional radiologist. We use imaging (ultrasound, CT, X-ray) to guide procedures that are performed through tiny nicks in your skin.

Interventional Radiology is the cutting edge of medicine, without the cutting!

We initiated a program to treat women with symptomatic fibroids in early 1999 and since then have become the most experienced physicians performing UFE in South Texas. I have personally treated over a thousand women in those 13 years, and I completely agree with the American Society of OB/GYN: UFE is wonderfully safe and extremely effective. UFE is also known as UAE (Uterine Artery Embolization...the exact same procedure as UFE). This site presents basic information about the procedure and specific information about our services.

And in 2006 we began to offer a completely non-invasive method of permanent birth control for women. Information about that non-surgical procedure is also found on my site.

It is important that you understand that UFE is not an experimental procedure. As indicated above, gynecologists recognize UFE as a "safe and effective option for appropriately selected women who wish to retain their uteri."

Some women in San Antonio face an unfortunate situation: they have a gynecologist who practices outdated medicine. While most gynecologists in the San Antonio area share the opinion of their national professional society, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a few unenlightened gynecologists view UFE as competition to their surgical options. These doctors will operate on you without ever letting you know you could have avoided surgery. If you have fibroids and your gynecologist tells you hysterectomy is your only option, you should at least seek a second opinion. There are circumstances where surgery is the best option...but they are few and far between. If you need a recommendation of gynecologists who have track records of telling their patients about the UFE option, let me know and I will provide you with some names.

I perform UFE, as do several of my partners, including:

Beatriz E. Escobar, M.D.

F. Stuart Browne, M.D.

David W. Bynum, M.D.

Amit Mehta, M.D.

Jorge A. Velez, M.D.

"The weight of my uterus was unbearable, pregnancy was more comfortable! I developed large painful varicose veins, back pain, my clothes didn't fit, my personal life was tanking and I was losing bladder control."

Many women in the San Antonio area do not realize that UFE is available in our city. In fact, we have been performing the same procedure, embolization of the uterine arteries, for other purposes for decades. UFE is not experimental. Our patients with fibroids have experienced excellent results. See the testimonials page for their point of view.

We provide services at three major hospitals in the South Texas Medical Center: Methodist Hospital, St. Luke's Baptist Hospital, and Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital (a.k.a. San Antonio Community Hospital). We also provide services at the Nix Hospital, North East Methodist Hospital, South West General Hospital, TEXSAN Heart Hospital, and Methodist Stone Oak Hospital. I prefer to perform the procedure at the main Methodist hospital in the medical center as I have a thoroughly trained team of technologists and nurses to assist you and I, and the finest equipment in the city is located at that hospital.

Navigate this site by the links at the upper left corner of the page. Other links will appear at the top of each page as you proceed. If you want to learn more about this procedure follow the Patient/Consumer link. If you are interested in never having to worry about contraception and avoiding surgery follow the Want permanent birth control? link. If you are a physician you should follow the Physician link. For recent reports about UFE in the news follow the UFE in the News link. Or search the entire site via the Search link.

Please feel free to contact me by e-mail or you can call the IRC/TVC at 210.616.7780 or 1 (800) 317-0774

NEW LOCATIONS! The Interventional Radiology Clinic (IRC)/ Texas Vein Clinic (TVC) is now a part of South Texas Radiology Imaging Centers (STRIC).

In addition to our original location on Huebner, the IRC/TVC now has two new locations!:

1) North West Imaging & Interventional Center on the first floor of the START Center on Medical Drive.

2) Hardy Oak Imaging & Interventional Center across from Methodist Stone Oak Hospital.

STRIC IRC are the places where we meet patients interested in learning more about and being assessed for UFE as well as many other interventional radiology procedures.

Office hours: Monday - Friday 8AM to 5PM

Voice (210) 616-7780 (they will answer "Texas Vein Clinic"...this is also the IRC but that is too much to say!)

Toll Free 1 (800) 317-0774

Fax (210) 616-7789

9150 Huebner Road Suite 130, San Antonio, TX, 78240

4383 Medical Drive, Suite 150, San Antonio, TX 78229

18707 Hardy Oak Blvd. Suite 100, San Antonio, TX 78258

www.stric.com

If you are looking for an Interventional Radiologist in your area, visit the Society of Interventional Radiology's www site and follow the link that allows you to search for doctors performing UFE in your state or region.

The SIR site also has information that will help you understand my subspecialty. After all, most people think of radiologists as doctors who read x-rays and drink a lot of coffee. My subspecialty is more like "image-guided alternatives to surgery"; though I do drink a lot of coffee.