SURVEY SHOWS MANY WOMEN WITH UTERINE FIBROIDS REMAIN UNTREATED FOR UP TO A YEAR OR LONGER

ROCKLAND, Mass., Aug. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- A new, national survey reveals that women have many misconceptions and lack basic information about uterine fibroids, an extremely common and often debilitating condition. Sixty percent of survey respondents who had been diagnosed with fibroids reported waiting up to one year before receiving treatment; 24 percent reported waiting a year or longer.

Lack of information about uterine fibroids and associated symptoms can have serious consequences for a woman's health and quality of life. Left untreated, fibroids can cause heavy, painful menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, enlargement of the abdomen, and can lead to reproductive problems. It is estimated that fibroid-related symptoms cause women to lose two-to-four million days of productivity every year.

In addition to poor awareness of symptoms and the consequences of leaving fibroids untreated, less than half (46 percent) surveyed could identify the correct description of a uterine fibroid. Moreover, only seven percent of the women surveyed realized that three-out-of-every-four American women will develop uterine fibroids.

"The problem here is twofold: many women unknowingly accept symptoms of uterine fibroids as an unfortunate fact of life. And, once they are diagnosed, women can be afraid to seek treatment fearing they'll need a hysterectomy," said Dr. Joe Bonn, Director of Interventional Radiology at Lankenau Hospital, Wynnewood, Penn. "The fact is medicine has come a long way since hysterectomy needed to be the standard of care. Today, non-surgical procedures exist that can dramatically improve a woman's quality of life."

Despite medical advances, uterine fibroids continue to be the leading reason for hysterectomies. In the United States, 30 percent of the approximately 600,000 hysterectomies performed annually are done to remove fibroids.

Women surveyed were much more aware of surgical treatment options for fibroids, such as myomectomy (62 percent) or hysterectomy (61 percent), than non-surgical options like uterine fibroid embolization (42 percent). Uterine fibroid embolization is a minimally-invasive procedure with proven effectiveness and shorter recovery times than surgical options.

"When I was diagnosed with uterine fibroids my physician told me that the only solution was a hysterectomy, which seemed entirely too invasive," said Carol Wheeler, 45, a Los Angeles resident. "I did my own research, figured out what my options were, went back to my physician and ultimately had a uterine fibroid embolization. No hysterectomy, and the relief from my symptoms was liberating."

There are several factors a woman should consider prior to deciding on a treatment option. These include recovery time, fibroid return rate, the risk of early menopause, cost and additional effects on the body. With the patient under conscious sedation, uterine fibroid embolization typically takes about an hour to perform. Most patients return home the day of the procedure and the recovery time is approximately 7-14 days, compared to the 4-6 weeks typically required for a hysterectomy. Most insurance carriers cover uterine fibroid embolization, and clinical studies show results comparable to other procedures like hysterectomy.

This study was sponsored by BioSphere Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ: BSMD) and conducted by Caravan Research Corporation. The survey was conducted via telephone to 1,000 women. More information on uterine fibroid embolization is available by calling 1-877-ASK4UFE or visiting http://www.ask4ufe.com/.

About Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors in or on the walls of the uterus. They can range in size from one-quarter to six inches or more in diameter and can have debilitating symptoms. Women are typically diagnosed between the ages of 35 and 54 with African-Americans three times more likely to experience fibroids than Caucasians. Symptoms of uterine fibroids include heavier menstrual bleeding, a sensation of abdominal fullness or bloating, pelvic pain, or pain during intercourse.

About BioSphere Medical, Inc.

BioSphere Medical, Inc., a medical device company based in Rockland, Massachusetts, has pioneered and is commercializing minimally-invasive diagnostic and therapeutic products based on its proprietary bioengineered microsphere technology. The Company's core technologies, patented bioengineered polymers and manufacturing methods, are used to produce microscopic spherical materials with unique beneficial properties, which the Company believes have the potential for use in a variety of medical applications. BioSphere's principal focus is the application of its Embosphere(R) Microspheres product for the treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids using a procedure called uterine fibroid embolization, or UFE. The Company's products have continued to gain acceptance in this emerging procedure as well as in a number of other new and established medical treatments.