Medically reviewed by Andrew Vartanian, MD
Quick answer: You’re likely a good candidate for UFE if fibroids are causing symptoms like heavy periods, pelvic pressure, or frequent urination, you want to keep your uterus, and you aren’t planning a pregnancy.¹ UFE is a non-surgical fibroid treatment done through a tiny incision in the wrist or upper thigh.³ PrecisionIR in Farmington Hills, MI can review your imaging and tell you whether UFE is right for you.
A lot of women find out about uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) too late. They’ve likely already tried medications and heard the word “hysterectomy” at least once. If that sounds familiar, you’re not behind. You’re just at the point where it’s worth asking a better question: is there a way to fix this without surgery?
For many women, there is. Uterine fibroids are extremely common. Somewhere between 20% and 80% of women will develop fibroids by age 50.³ Most never need treatment. But when they do cause trouble, UFE is one of the most effective non-surgical options available.
Here’s how to tell if you might be a good candidate for UFE.
What UFE does
UFE is performed by an interventional radiologist, instead of a surgeon. The doctor threads a thin catheter through a tiny opening in the wrist or upper thigh into the uterine artery, then releases microscopic particles that cut off the fibroids’ blood supply so they shrink and eventually disappear.4 There’s no abdominal incision and no general anesthesia.
7 signs you’re a good candidate for UFE
1. Your fibroids are actually causing problems
Fibroids that don’t bother you usually don’t need treatment. The women who benefit most from UFE are the ones whose symptoms are running their lives: periods that soak through a pad every hour, cramps that cost you workdays, a belly that looks four months pregnant, getting up three times a night to pee. In clinical reviews, bleeding and pressure-related “bulk” symptoms improved in roughly 80 to 90 percent of patients after UFE.¹
2. You want to keep your uterus
This is the big one. If a hysterectomy has been floated and your gut says no, UFE deserves a serious look. Physicians have described the ideal candidate as a premenopausal woman with symptomatic fibroids who wants to avoid hysterectomy.¹
3. You’d rather not have surgery
Some women can’t take weeks off for recovery. Others have health conditions that make general anesthesia riskier. With UFE, you’re sedated but awake, and there are no scars leftover.³ That alone makes it the right fit for a lot of people.
4. You need to be back on your feet quickly
Expect a rough few days of cramping afterward. That part is real. But most women return to normal activities within about 7 to 10 days,¹ compared with the roughly six weeks usually quoted for hysterectomy recovery.¹
5. You have several fibroids, or large ones
Myomectomy removes fibroids one at a time, which gets complicated when there are many of them scattered through the uterus. UFE treats all of them in a single procedure.¹ Size alone also isn’t automatically a dealbreaker, since there is no fixed size cutoff.¹ Your doctor will look at your imaging to judge whether very large fibroids will respond well and if you are a good candidate for UFE.
6. Medication hasn’t cut it
Birth control, hormonal IUDs, tranexamic acid, and GnRH drugs help some women. For others they barely touch the bleeding, cause side effects that aren’t worth it, or only work as long as you keep taking them. If you’ve been cycling through prescriptions without real relief, that’s a signal to explore something more definitive.
Does UFE hold up long term?
It’s a fair question, and there’s good data on it. The FIBROID Registry followed 1,278 UFE patients across 26 sites for three years. About 90 percent never needed a hysterectomy, and the large majority of those reported substantial improvement in symptoms and quality of life.²
Finding fibroid treatment near you in Metro Detroit
If you’ve been searching “fibroid treatment near me,” look specifically for an interventional radiologist who performs UFE. Many women are never told UFE exists because the specialist who does it isn’t the one they see for their annual exam.
PrecisionIR is an interventional radiology practice in Farmington Hills, Michigan, serving women across Oakland County and the greater Detroit area.
PrecisionIR’s physicians have been performing UFE for more than 25 years. Dr. Michael A. Savin began performing UFE in 1999 and has completed more than 400 procedures. Dr. S. Andrew Vartanian has performed UFE since 2011 and has completed more than 500. Dr. Charles Cash has performed UFE regularly since 2013 and has completed more than 400. Together, they have performed more than 1,300 UFE procedures for women across Metro Detroit.
At your consultation, you can expect a review of your symptoms and history, plus a pelvic MRI or ultrasound to map the size, number, and location of your fibroids. From there, you’ll get a clear recommendation, whether you are a good candidate for UFE or if another option fits you better.
A few questions worth bringing to your appointment:
- Based on my imaging, how much relief should I realistically expect?
- Would you recommend UFE, myomectomy, or something else for me, and why?
- Does my insurance cover UFE, and do I need a referral?
- What will my recovery look like week by week?
Ready to find out if UFE is right for you?
You don’t have to keep planning your life around your period. Contact PrecisionIR in Farmington Hills, MI to schedule a UFE consultation.
Frequently asked questions
Who is a good candidate for UFE?
Women with symptomatic fibroids, such as heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, or pressure on the bladder or bowel, who want to keep their uterus and avoid surgery.¹ A consult and imaging confirm eligibility.
Is UFE a non-surgical fibroid treatment?
Yes. UFE is done through a small puncture in the wrist or upper thigh using a thin catheter guided by X-ray.³ There’s no abdominal incision, no stitches, and no general anesthesia.
Are my fibroids too big for UFE?
Not necessarily. There’s no fixed size limit, and UFE is often used for large or multiple fibroids. Your doctor will review your MRI or ultrasound to decide whether you are a good candidate for UFE.
How long is recovery after UFE?
Patients return home the same day. Cramping and fatigue are common for several days, and most people return to normal activities in about 7 to 10 days.¹
How well does UFE work long term?
In the FIBROID Registry, about 90 percent of women avoided hysterectomy three years after UFE, and most reported substantial symptom relief.²
Where can I get fibroid treatment near me in the Detroit area?
PrecisionIR in Farmington Hills, MI offers uterine fibroid embolization and consultations for women throughout Oakland County and Metro Detroit. UFE at PrecisionIR is performed by Dr. Michael A. Savin, Dr. S. Andrew Vartanian, and Dr. Charles Cash, who have completed more than 1,300 UFE procedures combined. Schedule a consultation to find out whether you are a good candidate for UFE.
Call 947-228-5500 or book online to schedule.
Sources
- Smith SJ. Uterine Fibroid Embolization. American Family Physician. 2000;61(12):3601–3607. https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2000/0615/p3601.html
- Goodwin SC, Spies JB, Worthington-Kirsch R, et al. Uterine artery embolization for treatment of leiomyomata: long-term outcomes from the FIBROID Registry. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2008;111(1):22–33.
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine. Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE). https://www.mir.wustl.edu/patient-care/interventional-services/interventional-radiology/procedures/uterine-fibroid-embolization/
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Uterine Artery Embolization. ACOG. Reviewed May 2026. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/uterine-artery-embolization
