Uterine fibroid relief 
without surgery

Yes, fibroids can shrink without surgery. Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is a minimally invasive, non-surgical treatment that shrinks fibroids by cutting off their blood supply through a tiny catheter — no incisions, no hospital stay, and no removal of the uterus.

Other non-surgical options exist but have trade-offs. Hormonal medications can temporarily shrink fibroids or ease symptoms, but they generally work only while you keep taking them, and fibroids often regrow once you stop. Fibroids also shrink naturally after menopause as hormone levels fall. Among non-surgical choices, UFE offers lasting relief for most women without major surgery.

UFE can treat fibroids of nearly any size — size alone rarely rules out UFE.

What matters most is a fibroid's blood supply and location, not its diameter, because UFE works by blocking the arteries that feed the fibroid. Even bulky fibroids typically shrink 30–50% after treatment, easing pressure and bulk symptoms. An imaging evaluation — usually an MRI — confirms whether UFE is the right fit for your particular fibroids.

After UFE, fibroids shrink gradually over several months. Most of the shrinkage happens in the first three to six months, and fibroids typically continue to shrink for up to a year.

Symptom relief usually comes faster than the shrinkage itself. Many women notice lighter periods within the first one or two menstrual cycles, and pressure or bulk symptoms ease as the fibroids soften and shrink. On average, fibroids lose about 30–50% of their volume after UFE.

For most women, UFE does not cause or trigger menopause. Because UFE preserves your uterus and ovaries and only targets the fibroids' blood supply, your hormones and menstrual cycle typically continue as normal.

There is a small chance UFE can affect ovarian function — most often in women already close to menopause, typically over 45 — which can occasionally bring menopause on a little earlier. For the large majority of patients, though, periods continue and menopause arrives at its natural time.

Fibroids that are completely embolized during UFE generally don't return. The particles permanently cut off their blood supply, so they shrink and stay dormant.

Rarely, embolization is incomplete and a portion of fibroid tissue survives. Since your body's hormones can feed that residual tissue, it may regrow and cause symptoms again, occasionally needing further treatment. And as long as you're producing hormones, entirely new fibroids remain possible — though after menopause, falling hormone levels make further fibroid growth much less likely.

Recovery from UFE is usually very manageable. The most common discomfort is pelvic cramping in the first 24 hours after the procedure — similar to strong menstrual cramps — as the fibroids begin losing their blood supply.

We send you home the same day with medication to keep this discomfort under control, and the cramping typically fades within a day or two. Most women are back to normal activities within about a week, and our team follows up closely to keep your recovery smooth.

Yes, women with multiple fibroids are usually excellent candidates for UFE, because the procedure treats all fibroids at once. During UFE, tiny particles are injected into the uterine arteries and flow downstream to shut off the blood supply to every fibroid simultaneously.

Once their blood supply is cut off, the fibroids shrink and symptoms resolve — all treated equally during a single outpatient, non-surgical procedure.

No, many fibroids cause no symptoms at all. It's common for women to have fibroids for years without knowing it, often discovering them by chance during a routine exam or ultrasound.

When fibroids do cause symptoms, they can include heavy or prolonged periods, pelvic pressure or bloating, frequent urination, back pain, and pain during sex. Symptoms depend largely on a fibroid's size and location rather than how many you have — and treatment is generally recommended only when fibroids are actually causing problems.

Fibroids are almost always non-cancerous, and fibroids that aren't causing symptoms can often be safely left alone and simply monitored — many women never need treatment.

When symptomatic fibroids go untreated, though, symptoms can worsen over time. Heavy bleeding may lead to anemia, and growing fibroids can increase pelvic pressure, urinary frequency, and pain, and in some cases affect fertility. If your symptoms are interfering with daily life, a treatment like UFE can relieve them without major surgery.

Most women return to work and normal activities about one week after UFE. Because it is an outpatient procedure, there is no hospital stay — you go home the same day and recover at home.

You'll be with us for about 6 hours on your procedure day, and we send you home with medication to manage any discomfort afterward. Our team follows up frequently to ensure a smooth recovery.

Yes, many women have had successful pregnancies after UFE. Studies show that fertility and miscarriage rates in UFE patients are no different from those of women of the same age who have fibroids and have had no treatment.

Women focused on preserving fertility should also weigh myomectomy, a surgery that removes one or two fibroids and has been shown to improve fertility. Some studies suggest certain pregnancy complications — pre-term labor and pregnancy-induced hypertension (pre-eclampsia) — may be slightly more frequent after UFE than after myomectomy. For good surgical candidates open to an operation, myomectomy may be the better fit; UFE remains a solid option for women who aren't surgical candidates or simply prefer to avoid surgery.

Understanding the impact of fibroids on fertility and pregnancy is a crucial first step to take.

Yes — UFE is a well-established, widely accepted fibroid treatment covered by all major insurance carriers. Because Georgia Endovascular performs every UFE as an office-based outpatient procedure, many patients pay significantly less out of pocket — in some cases no more than an office-visit co-pay. Our staff knows the insurance wrinkles that come up during fibroid evaluation and treatment, and we contact your carrier directly to settle any coverage questions before your procedure. Learn more about our insurance and billing information.