Fibroids and uterine fibroid embolization (UFE)
Fibroids are common, non-cancerous growths in the uterus. Treatment options include medicine, UFE, myomectomy, and hysterectomy.
Patient education from interventional radiology
Know your minimally invasive options before major surgery.
Fibroids and an enlarged prostate are often treated with surgery. Many people never hear about image-guided treatments like uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) and prostate artery embolization (PAE). ProcedurePath explains every option in plain language, so you can ask your doctor about all of them.
Free. No account, no ads, and no tracking cookies.
Start with your condition
Understand the condition, then every way to treat it.
Each guide covers medicine, image-guided procedures, and surgery side by side, with the sources for every number.
Enlarged prostate and prostate artery embolization (PAE)
An enlarged prostate is common with age and can make it hard to urinate. Options include medicine, PAE, and procedures such as TURP, Rezum, and UroLift.
Knee arthritis and genicular artery embolization (GAE)
Knee osteoarthritis wears away the cartilage that cushions the knee. Options include exercise, medicines, injections, nerve ablation, knee replacement, and GAE, which is still being studied.
Getting a consult
How to see an interventional radiologist.
You can ask about UFE or PAE even if no one has brought it up.
Ask for a referral
Ask your gynecologist, urologist, or primary care doctor for a referral to an interventional radiologist. Referral rules vary by practice and plan; ask the office.
Check your coverage
Call your insurance plan and ask whether you need a referral and which interventional radiology clinics are in network.
Find a clinic near you
The Society of Interventional Radiology has a doctor finder. Bring your imaging reports and our printable questions to the visit.
Why trust ProcedurePath
Balanced, cited, and upfront about who writes it.
Varun Danda, MD, is an interventional radiology resident physician, the specialty that performs UFE and PAE. We say so up front, and we cover every option, including medicine and surgery.
- Every page is written and reviewed by Varun Danda, MD, and shows when it was last reviewed.
- Numbers come from society guidelines and published studies, cited on the page.
- No ads, no clinic sponsors, and no referral fees.
- No accounts and no tracking cookies. See our privacy page.
- Read how we write and review, including how we use AI tools.
Prepare for your visit
Bring better questions to your appointment.
These free tools run in your browser. Nothing you pick is uploaded or saved on our servers.
Questions to ask before UFE
A printable list for a fibroid embolization consult.
Questions to ask before PAE
A printable list for a prostate artery embolization consult.
Fibroid visit builder
Answer a few questions and get a short checklist for your fibroid visit.
BPH visit builder
Answer a few questions and get a short checklist for your prostate visit.
Compare fibroid treatments
Medicine, UFE, surgery, and more, side by side.
Compare BPH treatments
Medicine, PAE, TURP, Rezum, UroLift, and more, side by side.
FAQ
Common questions.
What is ProcedurePath?
ProcedurePath is a free patient education site about uterine fibroids and enlarged prostate (BPH). It explains every treatment option, including image-guided procedures like uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) and prostate artery embolization (PAE), and gives you questions to bring to your doctor.
Who writes ProcedurePath?
Varun Danda, MD, an interventional radiology resident physician, writes and reviews every page. Each page cites current guidelines and published studies.
Is UFE or PAE right for me?
Only a doctor who knows your symptoms, history, and imaging can say. ProcedurePath explains each option so you can ask about all of them, including medicine and surgery.
Do I need a referral to see an interventional radiologist?
Many people are referred by a gynecologist, urologist, or primary care doctor. Referral rules vary by practice and plan; ask the office. Check with your insurance plan first.
Does ProcedurePath give medical advice?
No. ProcedurePath is education only. It does not diagnose, read your reports, or recommend a treatment for you. Talk with your own doctor about your care.
What if I have urgent symptoms?
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department for heavy bleeding, fainting, chest pain, not being able to urinate, or other emergency symptoms.
Talk with your doctor. ProcedurePath is education only. It does not diagnose, read your reports, or recommend a treatment for you, and it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Read the full medical disclaimer.