Does UFE Work When You Have Multiple Fibroids? What You Should Know
Hearing ‘You have fibroids, not one, but multiple‘ can come as a shock. They are perhaps of different sizes. Maybe they’re in different locations. Maybe you’ve been told that there is no other way to fix this besides surgery.
At South Florida Vascular Associates, we see this question come up often, and we’re here to offer a different perspective. Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks fibroids by cutting off their blood supply. And the good news? It can be used to treat patients with multiple fibroids.
Here are some things you should know.
Why Multiple Fibroids Are More Common Than You Think
It’s rare for women to develop just a single fibroid. In most cases, multiple fibroids are present at the same time, varying in size, location, and the symptoms they cause. Some fibroids are entirely symptom-free, while others grow large enough to cause heavy bleeding, pelvic pressure, frequent urination, painful periods, or discomfort during intimacy.
It can feel relentless to live with multiple fibroids. Symptoms don’t take a day off. And many women spend years managing symptoms before learning that a lasting, uterus-preserving option exists.
How UFE Addresses More Than One Fibroid at a Time
UFE holds a distinctive advantage over surgical alternatives. Surgeons performing myomectomy (surgical removal of fibroids) can only remove the ones they can locate and access. Often, small or deeply embedded fibroids go undetected, and new ones may develop later.
UFE works differently. Instead of targeting individual fibroids, the procedure involves targeting the blood vessels that supply the uterus. A vascular specialist directs a thin catheter into the uterine arteries and injects small particles that prevent blood from flowing to fibroids, regardless of their location or number. Since all fibroids are connected through the same blood supply, the treatment is effective all at once.
UFE’s whole-uterus approach makes it particularly well-suited for women whose fibroids are spread across different locations, or when the number of fibroids makes surgical removal especially complex.
What to Expect from the Procedure
UFE is performed on an outpatient basis, typically under mild sedation. Your physician uses real-time X-ray imaging to access the uterine artery through a small puncture in your wrist or groin. The total time required for this procedure is approximately one hour, and most patients go home the same day or spend only a short night in the hospital.
The recovery time ranges from a few days to a couple of weeks, which is much shorter than the 6 to 8 weeks after a hysterectomy. Most women resume their normal lives fairly soon, and the full effects of fibroid shrinkage typically become noticeable over the following weeks and months.
A Uterus-Preserving Choice
One of the most significant benefits of UFE, particularly for women who have not completed family planning or those who just want to preserve their uterus, is that it does not involve the removal of any organs. It’s not a hysterectomy, and it’s not surgery in the traditional sense. No big incisions, no general anesthesia and no long hospital stay.
UFE represents an entirely new option for women with multiple fibroids who have felt as if they had no other choice but to manage the symptoms or to undergo surgery.
Is UFE Right for You?
Not all patients are ideal candidates, as fibroid size, location, and each patient’s overall health history all factor into the decision. This is why it is crucial to first receive a comprehensive consultation from an interventional radiologist. Before recommending treatment at South Florida Vascular Associates, we take the time to review your imaging, discuss your goals, and understand your symptoms.
If you’ve been living with the burden of multiple fibroids and want to explore your options, we’re here to help. Take the first step toward feeling like yourself again. Request a consultation.
FAQs
1. Can UFE treat fibroids of different sizes at the same time?
Yes. UFE targets the blood supply to the uterus as a whole, so fibroids of varying sizes are addressed simultaneously, rather than being removed individually as in surgery.
2. Will all my fibroids shrink after UFE?
Most fibroids shrink significantly following UFE as their blood supply is cut off. The degree of shrinkage varies, but most patients experience meaningful symptom relief within weeks to months.
3. Is UFE a permanent solution for multiple fibroids?
UFE is a long-term treatment. Treated fibroids do not regrow. However, new fibroids can potentially develop, which is why follow-up imaging may be recommended after your procedure.
4. Does having many fibroids make UFE more risky?
Having multiple fibroids does not inherently increase the risk of UFE. Because the procedure works through blood vessels rather than targeting each fibroid individually, it remains a safe, minimally invasive option.
5. How long does it take to see results after UFE for multiple fibroids?
Improvements in symptoms like heavy bleeding often begin within the first menstrual cycle after UFE. Significant fibroid shrinkage and full symptom relief typically develop over three to six months.
6. Can I still get pregnant after UFE if I have multiple fibroids?
Pregnancy after UFE is possible for some women, though it is not the preferred treatment choice for those actively trying to conceive. Speak with your vascular specialist to discuss fertility considerations before deciding.
Dr. Julien has performed more than 40,000 vascular procedures across a 30-year career. Double board-certified in Interventional Radiology and Diagnostic Radiology by the American Board of Radiology, he is the co-founder and past president of the Outpatient Endovascular & Interventional Society, a national faculty speaker at SIR, TCT, VIVA, and the Southeastern Angiographic Society, and a published author. Named a Boca Magazine Top Doctor 2025.
