Medically reviewed by Andrew Vartanian, MD
Quick answer: Yes, you can get pregnant after UFE! Many women with uterine fibroids, including women treated with uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), go on to have healthy pregnancies. In the FEMME trial, the largest randomized study comparing UFE with myomectomy, the pregnancy rate within four years was more than twice as high in the UFE group as in the myomectomy group.¹
If having a baby is part of your future plans, you deserve to understand all your treatment options and how each one may affect your fertility. And if an ultrasound just found a fibroid, know that you’re far from alone. By age 50, about 70% of white women and more than 80% of Black women develop fibroids.² In that same study, about half of the women whose ultrasound showed fibroids had never been diagnosed, a reminder that many fibroids cause no problems at all.²
Below, we walk through what the research says about becoming pregnant after UFE, how fibroids can affect fertility, and how to choose a treatment that supports your plans for a family.
Can you get pregnant after UFE?
Yes. Women get pregnant after UFE and they deliver healthy babies. Because UFE shrinks fibroids without surgery and leaves your uterus in place, the door to pregnancy stays open.
UFE is performed by an interventional radiologist. A thin catheter is guided through an artery in the wrist or groin to the vessels feeding the fibroids. Tiny particles block that blood supply, and the fibroids shrink over the following months. There’s no large incision, and patients go home the same day.
What does research say about becoming pregnant after UFE?
The strongest evidence we have about becoming pregnant after UFE is encouraging. Here’s what the most important studies found.
- The FEMME trial: more pregnancies after UFE. FEMME randomly assigned 254 women at 29 UK hospitals to either UFE or myomectomy, the surgical removal of fibroids. Within four years, there were 15 pregnancies in the UFE group and 7 in the myomectomy group. The cumulative pregnancy rate was 15% after UFE and 6% after myomectomy, more than twice as high.¹ The researchers noted that the number of pregnancies was too small to say for certain which treatment is better for fertility. Still, it’s the best head-to-head evidence available, and it shows UFE does not close the door on having a baby.
- Rates similar to women the same age: A 2023 review of women who wanted to conceive after UFE found an average pregnancy rate of 39.4%, a live birth rate of 69.2% and a miscarriage rate of 22%. The authors concluded these rates were comparable to the general population of the same age.⁴
- Similar pregnancy rates to surgery, with fewer preterm births: A 2023 meta-analysis of 15 studies found no statistically significant difference in pregnancy rates when it compared UFE directly with myomectomy, or looked only at women treated for fibroids. Women treated for fibroids also had a lower risk of preterm birth after UFE.⁵ Across all embolization patients, including those treated for other conditions, the analysis did find more bleeding after delivery, so it’s something your OB should know about.⁵
- Age matters! In a 2025 study of women who tried to become pregnant after UFE, those who had a baby were about 37 on average, compared with 41 for those who didn’t.⁶ If pregnancy is your goal, it’s worth talking with a specialist sooner rather than later.
Can fibroids affect your fertility?
Sometimes, but not always. Where a fibroid sits usually matters more than how big it is. Fibroids that bulge into the uterine cavity are the ones most linked to trouble getting or staying pregnant. Fibroids on the outer wall of the uterus usually are not.³
Doctors group fibroids by location:
- Submucosal: grow into the inside of the uterus, where an embryo implants. These are the most likely to affect fertility.
- Intramural: grow within the muscle wall. They may matter if they are large or press on the cavity.
- Subserosal: grow on the outside of the uterus. They rarely affect fertility.
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine says there isn’t enough evidence to conclude that fibroids in general make it harder to get pregnant. For fibroids that distort the cavity, though, treating them may improve pregnancy rates.³ That’s why a clear picture of your fibroids is step one.
Is UFE a good option for you if you want to get pregnant?
UFE may be a great fit if you want to keep your uterus and avoid surgery. It’s also a strong option for women who:
- Have many fibroids, or fibroids too large or deep to remove easily
- Had a myomectomy and the fibroids came back
- Have health conditions that make surgery or general anesthesia riskier
- Want a shorter recovery than surgery requires
- Want to avoid hysterectomy
Myomectomy has the longest track record in pregnancy research, and the FEMME trial shows UFE belongs in the same conversation. The right choice depends on your fibroids, your age, your health history and your goals.
When should you see a fibroid specialist?
If you have fibroids and you’re thinking about pregnancy, the best time to talk with a specialist is before you start trying. A quick ultrasound shows where your fibroids are, and that alone answers many questions.
Ask about a referral to a fibroid specialist if:
- You’ve had more than one miscarriage
- Your periods are so heavy that you feel tired, short of breath or anemic
- An ultrasound shows a fibroid inside or pressing on the uterine cavity
Fibroids are common, and they don’t have to stand between you and the family you want.
Talk with a PrecisionIR specialist about UFE and fertility
At PrecisionIR, our doctors will take the time to discuss the available research, understand your family-building goals, and help you make an informed decision about the treatment that best supports your individual needs.
We provide minimally invasive uterine fibroid treatment at our outpatient center in Farmington Hills, Michigan, serving women throughout Metro Detroit and Southeast Michigan. Our physicians are some of the top experts in the area, together performing 1,300+ procedures. If you’re living with heavy periods, pelvic pain, pressure or bloating, and you want to protect your options for pregnancy, we’re here to help.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get pregnant after UFE?
Yes! In the FEMME trial, the largest randomized study comparing UFE with myomectomy, the pregnancy rate within four years was 15% after UFE and 6% after myomectomy.¹ A 2023 review also found pregnancy and miscarriage rates after UFE comparable to women of the same age.⁴
Can you get pregnant with fibroids?
Yes. Many women with fibroids conceive and have healthy pregnancies. Fibroids are most likely to affect fertility when they grow into or change the shape of the uterine cavity.³
What size fibroid affects pregnancy?
There’s no single cutoff. Location usually matters more than size. A small fibroid inside the uterine cavity can cause more trouble than a large one on the outer wall. Your doctor will look at both together.
Can fibroids cause miscarriage?
Fibroids that distort the inside of the uterus are linked to a higher risk of early pregnancy loss, and treating them may lower that risk.³ Fibroids outside the cavity haven’t shown the same link.
Will I need a C-section after UFE?
Not necessarily. A 2023 meta-analysis found no significant difference in C-section rates among women treated for fibroids with UFE compared with other approaches.⁵ Your OB will recommend a delivery plan based on your full history, including any past uterine surgery.
Do fibroids grow during pregnancy?
Some grow a little in the first trimester, but most stay about the same size. Many shrink after the baby is born.
What is the best fibroid treatment if I want to get pregnant?
It depends on your fibroids, your age and your health history. Myomectomy has the longest track record, and the FEMME trial found a higher pregnancy rate after UFE than after myomectomy.¹ Radiofrequency ablation is another uterus-sparing option with more limited pregnancy data.⁷ A specialist can help you weigh what’s known for your situation.
Sources
- Daniels J, Middleton LJ, Cheed V, et al. on behalf of the FEMME Trial Collaborative Group. Uterine artery embolization or myomectomy for women with uterine fibroids: Four-year follow-up of a randomised controlled trial. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology: X. 2022;13:100139.
- Baird DD, Dunson DB, Hill MC, Cousins D, Schectman JM. High cumulative incidence of uterine leiomyoma in black and white women: ultrasound evidence. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2003;188(1):100–107.
- Practice Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Removal of myomas in asymptomatic patients to improve fertility and/or reduce miscarriage rate: a guideline. Fertility and Sterility. 2017;108(3):416–425.
- Mailli L, Patel S, Das R, et al. Uterine artery embolisation: fertility, adenomyosis and size. What is the evidence? CVIR Endovascular. 2023;6(1):8.
- Yan X, Zhou L, He G, Liu X. Pregnancy rate and outcomes after uterine artery embolization for women: a systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis. Frontiers in Medicine. 2023;10:1283279.
- Fabre C, Boeken T, Simon V, et al. Fertility outcomes after uterine artery embolization for symptomatic leiomyomas. CVIR Endovascular. 2025;8(1):83.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Management of Symptomatic Uterine Leiomyomas: ACOG Practice Bulletin No. 228. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2021;137(6):e100–e115.
