Am I a Candidate for UFE — Uterine Fibroid Embolization?

Marci* couldn’t believe what she was reading. It was a typical Tuesday afternoon, and while waiting to pick up her son from his afterschool activity she noticed a video in her social media feed introducing a fibroid treatment called uterine fibroid embolization (UFE). The post wasn’t long, but it offered Marci something she hadn’t felt in years: hope. Marci had been weighing having surgery to remove her fibroids and eliminate years of heavy menstrual bleeding, bloating, pelvic pain and pressure. But there were too many personal reasons holding her back. Losing her uterus, no longer being able to have children, a significant surgery, and a lengthy recovery process—all factored in. She simply wasn’t ready for such a drastic step. But UFE … this sounded different. “Do you mean to tell me there’s another way?” she thought to herself. Marci spent the next several days researching more about UFE. With each video she watched, article she read, and emotional testimonials from actual patients she found online, her excitement grew. There was just one question she needed to have answered—was she a candidate for UFE?

This is one question many women who are considering uterine fibroid embolization have at the top of their list. They know UFE isn’t surgery. They know it shrinks fibroids and relieves symptoms—with nothing more than a tiny wrist prick left to show for it. They know it’s a gamechanger for women’s health. But can UFE work for every woman, every case? Surely, you must qualify, right? In a word, yes. Not every woman is a candidate for uterine fibroid embolization. But many women who experience fibroid symptoms and want to avoid surgery are surprised to learn that they do qualify. The best way to know for sure is through a simple consultation.

With May being National Menstrual Health Awareness Month, including Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28th, this is a timely reminder that women need not suffer in silence. If fibroids are affecting your quality of life, exploring options like uterine fibroid embolization could be the first step toward real relief.

Candidates for UFE Can Finally Overcome These Fibroid Symptoms

• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Periods that last longer than a week
• Cramps, pelvic pain, or pressure
• Pain during intercourse
• Need to urinate more often
• Back or leg pain
• Constipation
• Weight gain
• Bloating in the abdomen

UFE Is Every Bit the Gamechanger You Need

We don’t have to tell someone like Marci how much of a difference uterine fibroid embolization can have on a woman’s life. If, like Marci, you’ve already done the research, you’ve likely scheduled appointments with your OBGYN or an interventional radiologist to confirm what you’ve read and answer any lingering questions. And that is a good thing because while UFE awareness is growing, researchers find that surgeries like hysterectomies and myomectomies still account for more than 96% of fibroid-related procedures. In other words, many women are still defaulting to surgery—even when a minimally invasive option like UFE exists.

Here’s why fibroid treatment with UFE is a worthwhile option to consider:

1. It’s not surgery — Rather than rely on several incisions to physically remove fibroids from your body, UFE shrinks the fibroids by eliminating the blood supply they need to survive. Your interventional radiologist makes a tiny nick on your left wrist and inserts a small catheter into your artery. They then use X-ray guidance to locate the vessels that supply blood to your fibroids, inject small particles into those nonessential vessels, and essentially shrink the fibroids until they die.
2. There’s less risk — Complications from hysterectomy and myomectomy are rare. But it is still considered major surgery, and a small number of patients do face serious complications ranging from excessive blood loss and infection to damage to vital organs, fertility issues, and even disruptions such as hormonal imbalances, depression, and changes in sexual feelings or sensations.
3. Appropriate for technically-challenging cases — Some women aren’t candidates for surgery because of various health issues or their desire to avoid surgery. For example, patients who refuse blood products, have too many fibroids to resect, have endometriosis or other health conditions, etc.
4. UFE can treat all fibroids — Many surgeries can be impacted by a fibroid’s size and where they are located in relation to the uterus. Since UFE simply cuts off the blood supply to the fibroids, size and location are not an issue.
5. There’s a shorter recovery time — Major surgeries naturally come with lengthy recovery times that can last anywhere from 4-6 weeks. Uterine fibroid embolization boasts a recovery time of only one week in most cases. From a post-procedure standpoint, our patients report little to no pain when they follow the recommended medicine protocol.
6. The uterus is preserved — Uterine fibroid embolization allows a woman to keep her uterus. Furthermore, according to the National Library of Medicine, fibroid treatment with UFE remains an option for females with clinically symptomatic fibroids who desire pregnancy.
7. No hospital stay needed — UFE is an outpatient procedure that can be performed in under an hour and gives women a chance to return to the comfort of their homes soon thereafter. The procedure is performed with moderate sedation, that is, medications are administered through an IV to help you feel relaxed, sleepy, and comfortable but you remain awake. This is simply not possible with surgery.

Recent data shows UFE continues to be recommended as a top-tier alternative for those seeking to avoid surgery and preserve the uterus, with high patient satisfaction of over 90%.

Am I Eligible for Uterine Fibroid Embolization?

Uterine fibroid embolization can be an effective option for more women than you might think. While specific data is hard to come by, since candidacy is always determined case-by-case based on imaging, symptoms, individual goals, and other clinical factors, it is safe to say that uterine fibroid embolization is an appropriate and viable procedure for most women with symptomatic fibroids unless they have a few contraindications.

For instance, these patients are generally not candidates for uterine fibroid embolization:

• Patients who are not experiencing fibroid symptoms.
• The patient has endometrial cancer.
• Patients with an active pelvic infection.
• Patients who are currently pregnant

That said, our fibroid experts can help educate you if you think you may be a good candidate for uterine fibroid embolization. Your eligibility is higher for the procedure if you:

• Have symptomatic fibroids that disrupt your life
• Need to lessen time away from work and family
• Are not currently pregnant
• Experience ongoing heavy periods, long cycles and period blood clots
• Want to keep your uterus
• Don’t want any surgery
• Cannot have surgery due to medical issues

Do I Need a Doctor Referral To Be a Candidate?

One common misconception about candidacy for uterine fibroid embolization is that you must receive a physician referral before exploring the procedure. At the Fibroid Institute, you do not need a referral to schedule a UFE consultation. Patients can contact us directly to discuss whether fibroid embolization might be appropriate for their situation. This makes it easier for women researching uterine fibroid embolization to take the first step without waiting for multiple appointments or referrals.

What will be required are additional tests to confirm if uterine fibroid embolization is the right treatment option for you and your unique fibroid journey. At the Fibroid Institute every patient is evaluated during a consultation appointment, which can be scheduled as a telehealth or in clinic meeting. During this consultation, our doctors take the time to get to know you, understand your symptoms, and learn about your goals and wishes. We also like to ask lots of questions, as creating natural, back-and-forth dialogue sets the stage for a trusting patient-doctor relationship.

If you are a candidate for uterine fibroid embolization, we will order an MRI and coordinate your care. Doing so gives our interventional radiologists and you a clear picture of what you are dealing with—the size and number of fibroids you have, where they are located within the uterus, how much blood flow currently exists, and whether UFE is likely to be effective based on any possible contraindications.

Talk to the Fibroid Institute To See If You Qualify for Uterine Fibroid Embolization

If you’ve been diagnosed with uterine fibroids and have heard about the benefits of uterine fibroid embolization, a comprehensive evaluation can help determine if you are a candidate for UFE. The good news is that many women do, in fact, qualify for the procedure, but knowing for sure is the key. Our team at the Fibroid Institute are among the top specialists for uterine fibroid treatment. We help women who are experiencing painful fibroid issues get back to the lives they were meant to live. At the Fibroid Institute, we set the standard of care for advanced fibroid treatment and help women achieve a symptom-free life, able to return to the activities they enjoy.

We specialize in UFE because it delivers results in the least time and with minimal pain. On top of that, we simplify your UFE journey, managing everything from insurance to PCP communication and offering all patients physician-direct access before and after their procedure. With multiple locations, our fibroid clinics help thousands of women avoid fibroid surgery and find relief from their fibroid symptoms.

Most major medical insurance providers cover the cost of UFE. As board-certified interventional radiologists, our fibroid doctors are experts passionate about helping women become #FibroidFree. Request a free 10-15-minute phone screening to determine if you are eligible. If you qualify for UFE after the screening, you can schedule your on-site or telehealth consultation. Most major medical insurance providers cover the cost of UFE.

Get started now by calling our Dallas, Texas clinics at 214-838-6440, Houston, Texas clinics at 713-903-3733, South Carolina clinics at 843-628-4290 or complete the form below.

The Fibroid Institute serves the Charleston, South Carolina, Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas and Greater Houston, Texas metro areas including Addison, Allen, Arlington, Bedford, Bellaire, Carrollton, Cedar Hill, Charleston, Clear Lake, Cockrell Hill, Conroe, Craig Ranch, Cypress, Dallas, DeSoto, Duncanville, Euless, Fort Worth, Frisco, Garland, Grand Prairie, Highland Park, Houston, Hurst, Hutchins, Irving, Katy, Kingwood, Lancaster, League City, McKinney, Mesquite, Mt. Pleasant, Murrells Inlet, Orangeburg, Park Cities, Plano, Richardson, Sherman, Spring, Stafford, Sugar Land, Summerville, Texas City, The Woodlands, Universal City, University Park, Walterboro, Webster and more.

This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Prior to starting any new treatment or if you have questions regarding a medical condition, always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider.

*Patient names and/or photos may be changed to protect patient confidentiality.