More than 10,000 women have avoided hysterectomy thanks to Atlanta Fibroid Center, which is celebrating their 20th anniversary as a pioneering practice dedicated to treating symptomatic fibroids through a minimally invasive procedure, Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE). Founded by Dr. John Lipman in 2005, the center has revolutionized women’s health care by helping patients preserve their uterus while effectively treating fibroid symptoms.
“I’ve had the privilege of expanding healthcare options for women and empowering them to make informed decisions about their bodies. Yet despite its proven success, UFE, one of the most significant medical breakthroughs for women, remains underutilized. Women’s healthcare providers have been far too slow to embrace this transformative treatment, especially for women of color who are disproportionately affected by fibroids,” said John Lipman, MD, FSIR. “We must stop the routine and irreversible hysterectomies performed on young Black women for benign fibroids. It is unacceptable. UFE is a safer, less invasive alternative, and I am dedicated to ensuring women know they have better options beyond surgery.”
Mayor Andre Dickens said in a statement: “Dr. Lipman and the Atlanta Fibroid Center’s leadership in women’s health has set an important example, providing care and options that have improved countless lives. This combination of professional excellence and community investment reflects the very best of Atlanta. Thank you for your lasting service to our community.”
Recently, the Atlanta Fibroid Center marked its 20-year anniversary with a celebration that raised $15,000 for Hosea Helps to support area families who are food insecure. The event highlighted stories of those whose lives have been transformed by Dr. Lipman and the UFE procedure.
Dr. Lipman’s practice was among the first nationally to focus exclusively on UFE, a minimally invasive 30-minute outpatient procedure that blocks blood flow to all of the uterine fibroids, causing them to shrink, which allows women to preserve their uterus and maintain fertility options with minimal recovery time compared to surgical alternatives like myomectomy or hysterectomy.
“We don’t talk enough about how many African American women are dealing with fibroids. I struggled with pain, fatigue, and severe anemia and didn’t know there were options. UFE and Dr. Lipman gave me my life back,” said Cynthia Bailey, actress from Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.”
The UFE procedure addresses a critical need. According to the UCLA Center for Reproductive Science Health & Education, up to 80 percent of women of color develop uterine fibroids during childbearing years with symptoms such as heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, and urinary issues. African American women are three times more likely to develop fibroids, which are larger, more numerous, and more likely to be recommended for surgery than their white counterparts, according to National Institute of Health research. Despite being benign, fibroids are the number one reason women undergo hysterectomy, with an average age under 40.
“My fibroid issues made me pay much closer attention to my body. I didn’t know I had options until I met Dr. Lipman. With the UFE procedure, I was back to normal in about seven days,” said Teresa Edwards, four-time Olympic gold medalist and 2011 inductee into the Basketball Hall of Fame.
The Atlanta Fibroid Center is the region’s leading nonsurgical fibroid treatment center with a dedicated angiographic suite and individual private rooms designed for comfortable patient recovery. The center’s reach extends far beyond Georgia, with 20 percent of patients traveling from across the U.S. and internationally for treatment.