Beverly Hills         Montclair        Apple Valley

Uterine Artery Embolization & Pregnancy Risks

A Look At The Clinical Evidence

Pregnant Woman After Uterine Artery Embolization Procedure

If you’ve done your research on uterine artery embolization and pregnancy risks, you’ll come to realize that there’s mixed messaging on whether or not it’s a safe option for the aspiring mother-to-be. Whether or not uterine artery embolization contributes to pregnancy, risks, complications, and/or infertility has been a subject of hot debate since the early 2000’s, when the first batch of clinical research emerged looking at pregnancy outcomes following fibroid treatment.

Today, we would say that the debate has certainly cooled down, but some institutions still caution against uterine artery embolization if a pregnancy is in your future. Meanwhile, others insist that the procedure has extremely minimal impact on fertility or pregnancy outcomes. The fact of the matter is that good quality clinical data on the subject is quite limited, and clinical experience has been mixed over the years with some institutions seeing overwhelmingly positive results and others leaning towards the negative.

In this review, our fibroid specialists explain what we know about the pregnancy complications of uterine artery embolization, and review the clinical evidence to help you understand the origins of both positive and negative claims about the procedure. Before we get into the details, it’s worth acknowledging that we’ve witnessed countless healthy pregnancies following uterine artery embolization, which means that it’s a feasible path forward for many women. In any case, you should make sure that you understand all of the uterine artery embolization pregnancy risks, and discuss them with your doctor before you settle on a treatment decision for your uterine fibroids.

Uterine Artery Embolization Specialist Dr. Michael Lalezarian

Uterine Artery Embolization Specialist in Los Angeles

ProFibroidMD is a leading provider of uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), the non-surgical, fertility-preserving treatment option for uterine fibroid symptom relief. Our Fibroid Specialists have helped numerous women overcome their fibroids and have successful pregnancies without going through a major surgery.
5-star fibroid symptom relief
“He is truly dedicated, and an extraordinary physician who’s really concerned with his patients!”

Adrianne S, October 2018

Pregnancy After Uterine Artery Embolization is Possible

When we talk about uterine artery embolization and pregnancy, we tend to say that it’s a fertility-preserving therapy, and that pregnancy after uterine artery embolization is very much possible. Uterine artery embolization is a minimally invasive procedure involving the injection of micro-sized particles into the blood vessels that supply the fibroids. When injected, the beads cut off blood supply to the fibroids, causing them to shrink to a fraction of their original size. The procedure is highly targeted and only has localized effects on the uterus where the beads are injected. For most women, uterine artery embolization keeps the uterus intact, functional, and capable of rearing children.

Woman with positive pregnancy test after uterine artery embolizaiton

Uterine Artery Embolization & Pregnancy Risks

If uterine artery embolization keeps the uterus intact, then why all this talk of pregnancy complications? When uterine artery embolization first started becoming a mainstream therapy, studies emerged that attributed certain obstetric complications to the residual effects of the procedure. These included:

  • Miscarriage: child is lost spontaneously prior to birth
  • Preterm delivery: child is born early
  • Intra-uterine growth restriction: child does not grow to normal size in the uterus
  • Malpresentation: child is positioned incorrectly leading up to childbirth
  • Postpartum hemorrhage: heavy bleeding after childbirth
  • Abnormal placentation: condition in which the placenta grows into the wall of the uterus, which can cause severe hemorrhage during childbirth

These complications occur in the general population and are not exclusive to women with fibroids or women who’ve undergone uterine artery embolization, but early data suggested that these complications occurred at a marginally higher rate following uterine artery embolization than when fibroids were treated with other uterus-preserving therapies like myomectomy [1].

It’s important to keep in mind that uterine artery embolization only shrinks fibroids by about 50%, and this is more often than not sufficient to relieve symptoms. Some physicians and researchers have argued that pregnancy complications could be attributed to larger fibroids in general and aren’t necessarily caused by any residual effects of uterine artery embolization. Rather, it could be that embolization does not shrink the fibroids enough to where they no longer obstruct features of the uterus during pregnancy. Regardless, the debate continues on whether or not these complications are even more common in women following uterine artery embolization, as we discuss below.

Fertility-Preserving Fibroid Treatment
See a Specialist in Los Angeles
Pregnant woman visiting physician for checkup uterine artery embolization

Uterine Artery Embolization & Pregnancy: The Clinical Evidence

The negative press around uterine artery embolization and pregnancy really began in the mid-2000’s. The first cautionary study on the subject was published by Goldberg and Pereira in 2004, in which the investigators observed the pregnancies of 51 women following uterine artery embolization alongside 133 women after myomectomy. The authors concluded that both treatments were safe and effective, but observed that the uterine artery embolization had more pregnancy complications than myomectomy, including preterm delivery (16% vs. 3%), miscarriage (24% vs. 15%), postpartum hemorrhage (6% vs. 1%), malpresentation (11% vs. 3%), and abnormal placentation. Indeed, the preterm delivery, miscarriage, and malpresentation rates following uterine artery embolization were slightly higher than what is observed in the general population, leading the authors to conclude that surgical techniques are the better option for aspiring mothers. [1]

Following this study, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released the following statement on uterine artery embolization in Feburary of 2004: “There is insufficient evidence in the current literature to ensure safety in women desiring to retain their fertility. Furthermore, pregnancy-related outcomes remain understudied in women wishing to retain fertility.” [1] This statement wasn’t ruling out uterine artery embolization by any means, but it did make it clear that we didn’t know enough about the effects of the procedure to recommend it (or reject it) as a fertility-preserving treatment option for uterine fibroids.

This negative press has since been balanced out by much more positive findings, and some studies have even reported a 100% successful pregnancy rate following uterine artery embolization. [2] McLucas published his findings in 2012 on 44 women desiring to get pregnant after uterine artery embolization. They reported that 48% of the women in their study successfully became pregnant, and all of the women in this subset had uncomplicated pregnancies and perfectly healthy newborns. Another noteworthy finding from this study was that many of the women fell pregnant multiple years after their embolization procedure. [3] Findings like these would suggest that pregnancy complications following uterine artery embolization are the exception and not the norm.

With all of this competing evidence, it should be noted that these studies are quite small and of relatively low quality to the extant that some professional medical organizations, such as the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Royal College of Radiologists in England, have stated that “it is impossible to make an evidence-based recommendation about treatment for women with fibroids who wish to maintain their fertility.” [4] In reviewing the evidence ourselves, we feel that this is an appropriate summary of what we know about different fibroid treatments and pregnancy.

It’s also important to keep in mind that every patient is different, as is every procedure and operator. There may be technical differences in how an embolization is conducted at different fibroid centers, for example, and the technique has certainly improved since its introduction at the turn of the millennium.

Fertility-Preserving Fibroid Treatment
See a Specialist in Los Angeles
Woman consulting with her physician about uterine artery embolization and pregnancy

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Uterine Artery Embolization Right For Me?

If you’re still nervous about the potential effects of uterine artery embolization on your future pregnancy, know that many women have had perfectly healthy pregnancies following uterine artery embolization. And while pregnancy outcomes should certainly be a big factor in your decision, they’re not the only factor. Uterine artery embolization is also the least invasive treatment option for uterine fibroids, and also provides the fastest recovery, making it ideal for busy women and women that want to avoid invasive surgery.

Is pregnancy after uterine artery embolization possible?

Yes, pregnancy after uterine artery embolization is possible. Several studies have reported high rates of successful, healthy pregnancies following the procedure, and at ProFibroidMD, we’ve personally been witness to successful, healthy pregnancies following uterine artery embolization.

Which fibroid treatment option is best for future pregnancy?

Both uterine artery embolization and myomectomy are viable options to retain fertility. There is ongoing debate about which is the better option, but high quality comparative data is lacking that confidently sets one treatment apart from the other (see above). Some studies have indicated that uterine artery embolization leads to more complicated pregnancies, while other studies indicate the opposite. Simultaneously, some medical researchers have described that the window for pregnancy prior to fibroid recurrence is far shorter following a myomectomy than uterine embolization [5], which would make embolization the superior option.

Does uterine artery embolization increase my chances of having a complicated pregnancy?

Given the mix of evidence, we don’t know if uterine artery embolization increases your risk of having a complicated pregnancy. If it does, it’s a marginal increase at most. Early studies on the subject suggested that uterine artery embolization did indeed increase the rate of pregnancy complications, but more recent work has shown the opposite. Professional medical organizations like the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists are also neutral on the topic, stating that there’s a lack of evidence to recommend any of the current fibroid treatments for fertility preservation or uncomplicated pregnancy.

What is the pregnancy rate after uterine artery embolization?

McLucas published a study in 2010 on 44 women desiring to get pregnant after uterine artery embolization. They reported that 48% of the women in their study successfully became pregnant, and that all of the women in this subset had uncomplicated pregnancies and perfectly healthy newborns [3]. However, pregnancy rates vary from study to study, with some reporting higher figures and some reporting lower. Fertility is multifactorial and cannot be solely attributed to fibroids or fibroid treatment. Further, every treatment center is different in their approach to uterine artery embolization and their patient population, and large-scale, high-quality studies have not looked at pregnancy rates after embolization, so any individual report should be looked at as preliminary data.

Can I get uterine artery embolization during pregnancy?

Due to safety concerns, the vast majority of medical organizations, institutions, and fibroid treatment centers strongly recommend against undergoing fibroid treatment while pregnant.

Do you have additional questions? If you’re in Southern California, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at ProFibroidMD. We’re more than happy to provide clarity on your fibroids and your options.

Fertility-Preserving Fibroid Treatment
See a Specialist in Los Angeles
More Resources
Woman discussing surgical vs. non-surgical fibroid treatment options with Fibroid Specialist

Surgical vs. Non-Surgical Fibroid Treatments: Which Is Best?

When it comes to fibroid treatment, we believe that less is more. A less invasive procedure means less trauma, less risk, and shorter recovery time. Learn more about why we opt for UFE, the least invasive treatment for uterine fibroids.

Uterine artery embolization

Uterine Artery Embolization

Uterine artery embolization is a minimally-invasive procedure that we offer at ProFibroidMD to relieve heavy bleeding, pain, and other symptoms in patients with uterine fibroids. Learn more about our specialty procedure.
Fibroid Specialist in Los Angeles

Fibroid Specialist in Los Angeles

Learn more about Los Angeles Fibroid Specialist Dr. Michael Lalezarian.

References

[1] Goldberg, J., & Pereira, L. (n.d.). Pregnancy outcomes following treatment for fibroids: uterine fibroid embolization versus laparoscopic myomectomy, 402–406.
[2] InterventionalNews. (2020). Fertility after uterine artery embolization: Still an unsolved issue, CIRSE delegates heard. Retrieved from: https://interventionalnews.com/fertility-after-uae-unsolved/
[3] Mclucas, B. (2013). Pregnancy following uterine artery embolization: An update, 39–44. http://doi.org/10.3109/13645706.2012.689768
[4] The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and The Royal College of Radiologists (2013). Clinical recommendations on the use of uterine artery embolisation (UAE) in the management of fibroids. Third Edition. London: RCOG and RCR, 2013.
[5] Mclucas, B., Iii, W. D. V., Elliott, S., Mclucas, B., Iii, W. D. V., Fertility, S. E., … Elliott, S. (2015). Minimally Invasive Therapy & Allied Technologies Fertility after uterine artery embolization : a review Fertility after uterine artery embolization : a review, 5706 (September). http://doi.org/10.3109/13645706.2015.1074082

Schedule Your Visit

Call ProFibroidMD Fibroid Treatment Center in Los Angeles, California
PHONE
Call us any time
M-F, 8am-5pm
Message ProFibroidMD Fibroid Treatment Center in Los Angeles, California
MESSAGE
Click the Chat Button
Get connected now with our
instant messaging widget.
Email ProFibroidMD Fibroid Treatment Center in Los Angeles, California
EMAIL
Email us or use the
contact form below.
You can also use this contact form
for general inquiries.

1 + 6 =