Can You Get Pregnant After Uterine Fibroid Embolization? What You Should Know During Fibroid Awareness Month
July 27, 2026
Medically reviewed by Alex Kim, MD
Quick answer: Yes, pregnancy after uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is definitely possible! Research, including the largest randomized trial comparing UFE to myomectomy, shows women do conceive after the procedure.
July is Fibroid Awareness Month and we want to join in on raising awareness about the all-too-prevalent condition of fibroids and the treatment options available. Our fibroid specialists at National Vascular Physicians in the DMV area and Virginia offer Uterine Fibroid Embolization, a non-surgical procedure that shrinks fibroids and preserves the uterus. When talking to patients, one question we get all the time is: can you get pregnant after uterine fibroid embolization?
The short answer- yes! Read on to learn more about this ground-breaking procedure and what the research says about pregnancy after UFE.
What Is Uterine Fibroid Embolization?
Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), also called uterine artery embolization (UAE), is a minimally invasive fibroid treatment. An interventional radiologist threads a thin catheter into the arteries feeding the uterus and injects tiny particles that block blood flow to the fibroids. Cut off from their blood supply, the fibroids shrink over the following months.
Some of the main benefits of this procedure include:
- No incision into the uterus! Fibroids are treated through the blood vessels, not removed surgically.
- A local anesthetic will be applied to the puncture site for the catheter, but no general anesthesia is needed.
- Shorter recovery time compared to surgical alternatives like myomectomy.
- The procedure takes place in a convenient outpatient center and requires no overnight stay. All patients return home the same day.
Because of these factors, UFE has become a great option for women who want relief from fibroid symptoms, such as heavy bleeding, pelvic pressure, and pain, without the longer recovery and general anesthesia that surgery requires.
Can You Get Pregnant After Uterine Fibroid Embolization?
Yes! Pregnancies after UFE have been documented in multiple studies over the past two decades.
One of the most detailed looks at this question comes from the FEMME trial, the largest randomized controlled trial ever conducted comparing UFE (referred to as UAE in the study) directly against myomectomy, the surgical removal of fibroids without removal of the entire uterus.
What the FEMME trial found, at four-year follow-up:
- 15 pregnancies among 12 women in the embolization group
- 7 pregnancies among 6 women in the myomectomy group
- A cumulative pregnancy rate of 15% in the UAE group versus 6% in the myomectomy group over four years¹
Another study following women who underwent UFE specifically because they wanted to become pregnant afterward found that well over half went on to conceive, with a substantial portion having had no previous children.² Findings like this have supported the notion that embolization is as good as any other option to treat fibroids while maintaining your fertility.
You Have Options For Fibroid Treatment
This Fibroid Awareness Month, the most important step you can take is an informed one. If you think you may have fibroids, talk with your doctor and explore next steps.
If you have already been diagnosed with fibroids and want to learn more about UFE, contact National Vascular Physicians to schedule an appointment with our fibroid specialists. We have locations in National Harbor, Rockville, and Glen Burnie, MD, as well as Roanoke and Lynchburg, VA.
References
- Daniels J, Middleton LJ, Cheed V, et al. 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.
- Walker WJ, McDowell SJ. Pregnancy After Uterine Artery Embolization for Symptomatic Fibroids: A Series of Pregnancies. American Journal of Roentgenology.
