Key facts
- A referral from your gynecologist, urologist, or primary care doctor is the usual way to start. Referral rules vary by practice and plan; ask the office.
- The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) maintains an online directory of interventional radiologists. It lists only SIR members1.
- Not every interventional radiologist treats every condition. Ask which of UFE or PAE the doctor performs.
- A first visit is a conversation, not a promise to have a procedure.
- ProcedurePath does not rank, recommend, or refer doctors.
Start with a referral
The most direct route is a doctor you already see. For fibroids, ask your gynecologist. For an enlarged prostate, ask your urologist. Your primary care doctor can also help with a referral.
You can ask about UFE or PAE even if no one has brought it up. A simple way to ask: “Do you work with an interventional radiologist, and can you refer me for a consult?”
Your insurance plan may have its own referral or network rules. Call the number on your insurance card and ask what it requires before an IR visit.
Where to look
If your doctor does not have a name to give you, these are places to start:
- The interventional radiology or radiology department of a hospital near you. Check whether its website lists its IR doctors.
- An academic center, if you live near one. Ask whether it has an IR service.
- An outpatient IR practice. Ask whether it books visits directly or through a referral.
A larger group may list several doctors. Ask which one performs your procedure.
The SIR doctor finder
The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) maintains an online doctor finder, a directory of interventional radiologists that you can search by expertise and location1. It is a directory maintained by the Society of Interventional Radiology. ProcedurePath does not endorse, rank, or vouch for any doctor or practice listed there.
The directory lists only interventional radiologists who are SIR members1, so a doctor who is not listed may still practice IR. A listing does not tell you whether a doctor performs UFE or PAE, or whether the doctor is right for you. Call the office and ask.
Searching near you
If you search for “UFE doctors near me,” “who performs prostate artery embolization,” or a city plus a procedure name, a few checks can help you sort what you find:
- Look for the specialty. The doctor’s or practice’s page should say interventional radiology.
- Look for your procedure by name. A page that names UFE or PAE tells you more than a page about IR in general.
- Compare with the directory. Search the SIR doctor finder for your area and see which names appear in both places.
- Call to confirm. Websites can be out of date, so ask the office which procedures its doctors perform now.
What to ask when you call
The person who answers the phone can often answer these. Write the answers down and bring them to your visit.
Questions to ask the office
- Does the doctor see patients for UFE or PAE?
- Do I need a referral first, and does the office take my insurance plan?
- Is the first visit a consult only? How long is the wait for one?
- What should I bring? For fibroids, that often means a pelvic ultrasound or MRI report. For an enlarged prostate, bring your PSA results and any prostate imaging.
- Is a video visit an option?
Questions to ask your insurance plan
- Do I need a referral to see an interventional radiologist?
- Is this office in my plan’s network?
- Does my plan require prior authorization for a consult or for a procedure?
Video visits and second opinions
Ask whether a video visit is an option for a first conversation, and how the office can review imaging reports or images you send ahead of time. You can also ask for a second opinion from another interventional radiologist, or ask your gynecologist or urologist to go over the options with you.
An IR consult is a visit to talk, not a promise to have a procedure. You can ask questions and decide later.
Before the visit
Bring a printed list of questions to the visit: questions to ask before UFE or questions to ask before PAE.
Who writes this page
This page is written by Varun Danda, MD, an interventional radiology resident physician. That is the specialty that does UFE and PAE, so we say it up front. ProcedurePath has no ads, sponsors, or referral fees, and it covers every option, including medicine and surgery. The link to the SIR doctor finder points to a directory. It is not an endorsement. Read how we write and review.
Common questions
How do I find an interventional radiologist near me?
Ask your gynecologist, urologist, or primary care doctor for a referral, or search the directory maintained by the Society of Interventional Radiology. Then call the office and ask which procedures the doctor performs.
Who performs prostate artery embolization?
Interventional radiologists perform PAE. A urologist usually manages an enlarged prostate and can refer you. Ask any office whether the doctor does PAE.
Is the Society of Interventional Radiology doctor finder an endorsement?
No. It is a directory maintained by the Society of Interventional Radiology. ProcedurePath does not endorse, rank, or refer doctors, and the directory lists only members of the society.
Can I see an interventional radiologist without a referral?
Referral rules vary by practice and plan; ask the office. Check with your insurance plan first.
Can I talk with an interventional radiologist by video?
Ask the office whether a video visit is an option and how it can review your imaging reports. Talk with your doctor about whether a second opinion would help.