Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE)

In the past, traditional treatment for uterine fibroids involved hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) or other forms of treatment that left women unable to conceive. At ECCO, we prefer a safer, gentler, and minimally invasive procedure called uterine fibroid embolization, or UFE.

During this procedure, your interventional radiologist inserts a thin catheter into the arteries that feed the fibroids, pinpointing their exact location using X-ray fluoroscopy. The doctor then injects a solution of embolizing particles into the arteries to close them off, causing the fibroids they feed to shrink and die.

The UFE procedure is performed in our office-based laboratory on an outpatient basis. Because there are no incisions, the procedure itself poses few risks, and the lack of trauma to the uterus means you can retain your ability to become pregnant, if you wish. Most patients report significant reductions in symptoms, often as quickly as the next menstrual cycle.