Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE)
Non-Surgical Relief from Uterine Fibroids
If uterine fibroids are disrupting your life — heavy bleeding that keeps you home from work, pelvic pressure that makes you look months pregnant, pain during intimacy, or constant trips to the bathroom — you deserve to know about all of your treatment options. Hysterectomy is not your only choice.
Uterine artery embolization (UAE), also called uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), is a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks fibroids by cutting off their blood supply — preserving your uterus, treating all fibroids simultaneously, and getting you back to your life in 7 to 10 days instead of the 6 to 8 weeks required after hysterectomy.
Dr. Austin Bourgeois is the only interventional radiologist in Huntsville, Alabama offering dedicated fibroid embolization. Women in North Alabama no longer need to drive to Birmingham or Nashville for this procedure. No referral is needed to schedule a consultation.
Are You Experiencing These Fibroid Symptoms?
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that affect up to 80 percent of women by age 50. Common symptoms include:
- Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding — soaking through pads or tampons hourly
- Pelvic pain or pressure
- Frequent urination or difficulty emptying your bladder
- Constipation or bloating
- Pain during intercourse
- Lower back pain
- Enlarged abdomen — looking months pregnant
- Anemia or fatigue from chronic blood loss
If fibroids are impacting your quality of life, work, or relationships, uterine artery embolization can help you reclaim your health without major surgery.
WHAT IS UAE?
Uterine artery embolization is a non-surgical treatment performed by an interventional radiologist. Dr. Bourgeois inserts a thin catheter through a tiny puncture in the wrist or groin and guides it to the uterine arteries using real-time X-ray imaging. Microscopic particles are injected to block blood flow to the fibroids, which then shrink over the following months — typically by 40 to 60 percent.
The procedure takes 60 to 90 minutes under conscious sedation. It treats every fibroid simultaneously, regardless of number or location — unlike myomectomy, which must identify and remove each one individually. Studies show 85 to 95 percent of women experience significant symptom improvement, with heavy bleeding resolving in over 90 percent of patients.
Who is a Candidate?
UAE is ideal for:
Symptomatic fibroids causing heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, pressure, or urinary frequency
A desire to keep your uterus — for fertility, personal, cultural, or emotional reasons
Multiple fibroids of various sizes that would make surgical removal complex
Been told hysterectomy is your only option and want to explore alternatives
Medical conditions that make major surgery under general anesthesia risky
BENEFITS OF UTERINE ARTERY EMBOLIZATION
- No surgical incision — just a tiny puncture site
- Preserves your uterus
- Treats all fibroids in one procedure regardless of number or location
- Same-day or overnight outpatient procedure
- Faster recovery than hysterectomy — 7-10 days vs. 6-8 weeks
- Significant symptom relief in 85-95% of patients
- Lower complication rate than hysterectomy (1.3-4.8% vs. 14.5-20%)
- Fibroids shrink 40-60% over 3-6 months
Recovery & Results
Most patients stay overnight for optimal pain management and go home the next morning. The first 24 hours involve the most intense cramping, managed with IV pain medication. Post-embolization syndrome — cramping, low-grade fever, and fatigue — typically resolves within five to seven days.
Most women return to work in 7 to 10 days. Many notice reduced bleeding within their first menstrual cycle after the procedure. Full symptom improvement continues over 3 to 6 months as fibroids shrink, with 85 to 95 percent of women reporting significant, lasting relief. At five years, 73 to 80 percent maintain symptom control. A follow-up MRI at six months documents the results.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about UFE — with links to our in-depth guides for more detail.
Most women return to desk work in 7 to 10 days. The first 24 hours involve the most cramping, managed with IV medication during an overnight stay. Compare this to 6 to 8 weeks of recovery after hysterectomy.
Read our detailed recovery timelineYes. UFE is covered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, TRICARE, Medicare, Medicaid, and virtually all major commercial plans. Typical out-of-pocket with insurance is $2,000 to $3,000. Our team handles prior authorization.
See detailed cost and insurance informationUFE preserves your uterus with a 7–10 day recovery and 1.3–4.8% complication rate. Hysterectomy removes the uterus permanently but has a 6–8 week recovery and 14.5–20% complication rate.
Read our full side-by-side comparisonUFE preserves the uterus, so pregnancy remains possible. Published pregnancy rates after UFE are 23–41%. For women actively planning pregnancy, myomectomy is typically recommended first as it has better fertility outcomes.
Learn more in our Complete UFE GuideUFE achieves 85 to 95 percent overall symptom improvement. Heavy bleeding resolves in over 90 percent of patients. At five years, 73 to 80 percent maintain symptom control. The FIBROID Registry of 3,000+ patients confirms these results.
See full success rate dataUFE is performed by interventional radiologists, not gynecologists. Many OB/GYNs focus on the surgical procedures they perform. A 2024 survey found only 17% of fibroid patients recalled being offered UFE. No referral is needed to schedule a consultation.
Learn more in our Complete UFE GuideWithout insurance, UFE costs $10,000 to $15,000 — significantly less than the $30,000 to $50,000+ for hysterectomy. With commercial insurance, typical out-of-pocket is $2,000 to $3,000. Medicare patients with Medigap often pay little to nothing.
See complete cost breakdownHave more questions? Dr. Bourgeois is happy to discuss your specific situation.
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