Frequently Asked Questions

We hope you find these commonly asked questions helpful. If you have a question that you don’t see an answer to, please contact us.

Treating Fibroids

UFE Candidates

Scheduling & Insurance

During UFE

Fibroids and Pregnancy

UFE Recovery

UFE Success

Myomectomy

Treating Fibroids

No, if you don’t have any symptoms from your fibroids, they can be left alone.

Yes. Some medicines can temporarily relieve symptoms. An endometrial ablation can improve heavy bleeding. And UFE can resolve many or all fibroid symptoms.

Your fibroids will continue to grow until you go through menopause. If they never cause you problems, you can ignore them. If you are a young woman (in your 30s) and already have large fibroids, it may be wise to take care of them before they get bigger and more difficult to treat.

UFE Candidates

The initial evaluation for UFE is through a consultation with Dr. Slonim to review your medical history and physical exam. After that, we’ll help you schedule an MRI. Dr. Slonim decides if you are a good candidate based on information from your history and MRI results.

Yes, UFE will treat every fibroid in the uterus at once.

Scheduling and Insurance

After the consultation and after your MRI, we wait for your insurance to approve the UFE. That can take anywhere from 1 day to 2 weeks.

Yes. Most major health insurance companies cover UFE.

During UFE

During the procedure, you’ll be sedated and asleep. You won’t feel any pain or remember the procedure.

Yes, UFE can successfully treat fibroids of all sizes.

Fibroids and Pregnancy

Most women with fibroids are easily able to get pregnant and have babies without any problems. However, large or multiple fibroids can be a source of infertility.

If getting pregnant is your top priority, UFE is not the right procedure for you. The available scientific studies indicate that UFE increases the risk of miscarriage. If you are trying to get pregnant, myomectomy is the procedure of choice to treat fibroids.

UFE Recovery

Most women are back at work between 7 to 10 days.

Dr. Slonim sees patients 1 week, 1 month and 3 months after the procedure.

Most women still get their periods after UFE, only much lighter. In women over 40, about half of them stop having periods.

UFE Success

UFE relieves fibroid-related symptoms 90% of the time.

UFE blocks blood flow to the fibroids and causes them to shrink over several months. You can expect to see the full effect within 3 to 6 months of the procedure.

Once you have a UFE, your fibroids will shrink and won’t return. But you could form new fibroids. If you’re in your 30s and have 20 years before menopause, it’s possible to grow new fibroids. If you’re close to menopause due to your age, it’s very unlikely you will develop a big enough fibroid that would cause symptoms.