Patients scheduled for uterine fibroid embolization often want a clear, step-by-step picture of what the day will actually look like, from the moment they arrive for pre-procedure imaging through the weeks of recovery afterward. While every case differs based on individual anatomy and fibroid characteristics, there is a general sequence that most patients undergoing this catheter-based procedure can expect.
What Happens Before the Procedure?
Before uterine fibroid embolization is scheduled, patients typically undergo imaging, most often an MRI or ultrasound, to characterize the size, number, and location of the fibroids. This imaging helps the interventional radiologist plan the procedure and confirms that UFE is a reasonable option for the specific fibroid pattern present. Blood tests and a review of medical history are also standard parts of pre-procedure evaluation, and patients are generally counseled on what to expect and given instructions about eating, drinking, and medications in the days leading up to the procedure.
A qualified physician determines candidacy based on this workup, since not every fibroid presentation is equally suited to an embolization approach.
How Is Vascular Access Obtained During UFE?
On the day of the procedure, the interventional radiologist typically obtains access through a small puncture in an artery, most commonly in the wrist (radial access) or the groin (femoral access), depending on operator preference and patient anatomy. Local anesthesia is used at the access site, and most patients receive sedation to help them remain comfortable throughout the procedure, though general anesthesia is not typically required.
Through this access point, a thin catheter is guided under fluoroscopic image guidance to the uterine arteries, which supply blood to the fibroids. Contrast dye is injected to confirm the catheter's position and to visualize the vascular anatomy before treatment begins.
How Is the Embolic Agent Delivered?
Once the catheter is correctly positioned within the uterine arteries, the interventional radiologist delivers an embolic agent designed to occlude blood flow specifically to the fibroid tissue. The goal is to reduce or eliminate the blood supply feeding the fibroids, which is intended to cause them to shrink gradually over the following weeks and months as the tissue responds to the loss of blood flow. This step is performed under continued imaging guidance to confirm that blood flow has been appropriately reduced in the targeted vessels.
The entire procedure, from initial access to catheter removal, commonly takes a period ranging from under an hour to a couple of hours, depending on the vascular anatomy encountered.
What Is Recovery Like After UFE?
Many patients experience a cluster of symptoms in the hours and days following UFE sometimes referred to as post-embolization syndrome, which can include pelvic pain or cramping, low-grade fever, nausea, and fatigue. This is commonly reported as a self-limited response to the fibroid tissue losing its blood supply rather than a sign of a complication, though any severe or persistent symptoms should be discussed with the care team, and red-flag symptoms such as high fever, severe unrelenting pain, or heavy vaginal bleeding warrant seeking immediate medical care.
Hospital stays after UFE are typically short, often just an overnight stay or in some cases same-day discharge, and most patients return to normal activities within one to two weeks, though this timeline varies by individual case. Symptom relief from the fibroids themselves, such as reduced heavy menstrual bleeding or pelvic pressure, generally develops gradually over the following weeks to months rather than immediately.
Embolic agents and delivery systems used in UFE and related catheter-based vascular treatments are manufactured by several companies in this space, including INVAMED, and readers can review the full INVAMED embolization category page for more information on the devices used in this category.
Is post-embolization syndrome a sign something went wrong?
Post-embolization syndrome, which can include pelvic pain, low-grade fever, and fatigue in the days after UFE, is commonly reported as an expected response rather than a complication. However, severe or worsening symptoms should always be discussed promptly with the care team to rule out a more serious issue.
Device availability and regulatory status vary by country. Please contact INVAMED or your authorized local distributor for current regulatory information applicable to your region.