This article was medically authored by Dr. Sachin Sheth and last reviewed for accuracy on 09/22/2026
Cost is an important consideration when deciding how to treat uterine fibroids. If you are considering uterine fibroid embolization, or UFE, you may be wondering how much the procedure costs and whether your insurance will cover it.
UFE is a minimally invasive alternative to fibroid surgeries such as hysterectomy and myomectomy. Because it does not require traditional surgery, most patients can avoid an overnight hospital stay and return to their normal routines sooner. A shorter recovery can also mean fewer missed workdays and other expenses associated with a lengthy recovery.
For many patients, these factors can make UFE a more affordable option than surgery.
Key Takeaways
The amount you pay for UFE will depend on several factors, including your insurance plan, deductible, copay, coinsurance requirements, and where you are in your annual insurance benefits.
UFE may also cost less overall than surgical options such as hysterectomy or myomectomy. In addition to avoiding major surgery, patients generally experience a shorter recovery period and may face fewer treatment-related complications.
That recovery difference matters financially, too. Spending less time away from work and daily responsibilities can reduce some of the indirect costs that come with fibroid treatment.
Insurance typically covers much of the cost of UFE when the procedure is medically necessary, although individual coverage varies.
Georgia Endovascular Associates accepts most private insurance plans to help offset your out-of-pocket payments.
Even with insurance coverage, patients may still be responsible for expenses such as:
Understanding those numbers before scheduling a procedure can make the treatment process much less stressful. Our team works with patients to review their benefits and explain what their insurance is expected to cover so they have a clearer picture of their personal cost before treatment.
It is easy to focus only on what fibroid treatment costs. But delaying treatment can carry financial consequences of its own.
Research highlighted by the Fibroids Foundation estimates that uterine fibroids create an economic burden of approximately $17.2 billion for American women through missed workdays, lost employment opportunities, and short-term disability leave.
For someone dealing with [fibroid symptoms] such as heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, pressure, fatigue, or anemia, those costs can become very personal. Missing work repeatedly, turning down opportunities, rearranging schedules around symptoms, or needing time off can all have financial consequences.
And the impact of fibroids extends well beyond money.
Fibroid symptoms can interfere with many parts of everyday life, including menstrual health, sexual health, relationships, work, and social activities.
In one survey of women with fibroids, 21% reported that their condition negatively affected relationships with friends and family. In the same survey, 52% worried about their ability to maintain a sexual relationship.
Research has also found an association between emotional distress, including anxiety and depression, and increased fibroid growth. While research continues into the relationship between physical and emotional health, the findings highlight how extensively fibroids can affect a patient's quality of life.
For Black women, the burden can be even greater.
Although uterine fibroids can affect women of any race, Black women experience fibroids at significantly higher rates and often develop them earlier.
Black women are approximately three times more likely to develop fibroids than White women. Fibroids can also appear at younger ages. By age 24, at least 25% of Black women have developed a fibroid.
Symptoms may be more severe as well.
Black women experience pressure, abdominal swelling, and bloating about twice as frequently as White women. They are also approximately three times more likely to develop anemia, often as a result of the heavy menstrual bleeding associated with fibroids.
These differences can lead to more hospitalizations, greater medical expenses, and higher rates of surgical treatment.
At the same time, approximately 32% of women with fibroids delay seeking treatment.
That means the cost of waiting, financially, physically, and emotionally, may eventually become just as important to consider as the immediate cost of UFE.
Every fibroid treatment comes with its own considerations. That includes the direct medical cost, recovery time, time away from work, possible complications, and the long-term effect of the treatment.
Hysterectomy and myomectomy are important treatment options for some patients, but they are not the only options available.
In fact, about one in five American women believes hysterectomy is the only treatment for uterine fibroids. It is not.
Uterine fibroid embolization offers an alternative for many patients who want to treat their fibroids without undergoing major surgery. During UFE, an interventional radiologist blocks the blood supply feeding the fibroids, causing them to shrink over time.
Whether UFE is appropriate depends on your symptoms, medical history, imaging, treatment goals, and other individual factors. You can further explore your candidacy here.
There is no single price that applies to every UFE patient. Insurance benefits and out-of-pocket responsibilities vary from one person to another.
If you are considering UFE at Georgia Endovascular Associates, our team can help determine what your insurance covers and explain your expected costs before treatment. We can also discuss available payment or financing options for expenses that are not fully covered.
You should not have to make a treatment decision without understanding the financial side of it.
More importantly, you should know that surgery is not your only possible option for treating fibroids.
If fibroid symptoms are interfering with your work, relationships, daily activities, or quality of life, schedule a consultation today to learn whether uterine fibroid embolization may be an appropriate treatment for you.
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