Recovery after uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) usually takes about 1 to 2 weeks for day-to-day life, with the hardest part in the first few days. RadiologyInfo, the patient site of the American College of Radiology and the Radiological Society of North America, says most people can return to normal activities within one to two weeks. Your fibroid symptoms then improve more slowly, over a few months. This guide walks through what published studies and medical societies describe at each stage, so you can plan time off, help at home and follow-up.
Everyone heals a little differently. Use this as a general map, and follow the instructions your own doctor gives you.
Your UFE recovery at a glance
| Time after UFE | What is typical | What the sources say |
|---|---|---|
| Day of procedure | Rest flat for a few hours, pain medicine, then home or an overnight stay | ACOG: some go home the same day, others stay overnight; you may need to lie flat for a few hours |
| Days 1 to 2 | Strongest cramping, tiredness, possible nausea | RadiologyInfo: cramps are most severe during the first 24 hours |
| Days 3 to 7 | Cramping easing; some women have low fever, nausea, poor appetite and feel unwell (post-embolization syndrome) | CIRSE 2015 guideline: these symptoms occur in the first few days after UAE |
| Weeks 2 to 4 | Back to most normal activities and many jobs | RadiologyInfo: 1 to 2 weeks; FIRSTT trial: median 8 days off work |
| Weeks 4 to 6 | Nearly everyone is back to work and normal routines | CIRSE 2015 guideline: almost always possible by 4 to 6 weeks |
| Months 2 to 3 | First changes in bleeding and pressure symptoms | ACOG: may take 2 to 3 months to see a change |
| Months 3 to 6 and beyond | Fuller effect; fibroids keep shrinking; follow-up visit or imaging (ask your doctor) | CIRSE 2015: maximal effect at 6 months; ACOG: shrinking may continue a year or more |
Day of the procedure
When the catheter comes out, pressure is put on the small puncture in the groin or wrist. ACOG notes you may have to lie flat for a few hours afterward. Pain control starts right away, because cramping begins as the fibroids lose their blood supply.
Whether you go home the same day depends on the program and on how well your pain is controlled. In the UK REST trial of 157 women, the median hospital stay was 1 day after UFE compared with 5 days after surgery. In a 2021 series of 374 same-day UFEs done through the wrist, women spent a median of about 3.7 hours in recovery, and 2.1% were admitted overnight instead. You will need someone to take you home.
Days 1 to 2: the hardest stretch
RadiologyInfo says pelvic cramps are common for several days and are most severe during the first 24 hours. You may also feel tired, a little nauseated or have a low temperature. Plan to spend these days resting at home, taking your pain medicine on the schedule your doctor gave you, drinking fluids and eating light meals as you can.
For more on what the pain feels like and how it is treated, see Is UFE Painful?
Questions about your treatment options? Dr. Fox can help.
Book a ConsultationThis article is part of our Fibroid Treatment Guide.
Days 3 to 7: post-embolization syndrome
After the first couple of days, cramping usually starts to ease. Some women go through a short flu-like phase. The CIRSE 2015 guideline (Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe) describes post-embolization syndrome as pelvic pain, low-grade fever, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and malaise in the first few days after UAE. It is thought to be the body's reaction to fibroid tissue losing its blood supply, and mild versions are expected. CIRSE counts it as a complication in about 3% of cases, though studies define it in different ways.
Our page on post-embolization syndrome explains how to tell normal symptoms from ones that need a call. ACOG says pelvic pain and cramps may continue on and off for up to 2 weeks.
Weeks 2 to 4: back to work and routine
How much time off you need depends on your job and how you feel. Published numbers vary with the era and the country of the study:
- In the FIRSTT trial (published 2017), women took a median of 8 days off work after UFE, and returned to normal activity after a median of 15 days.
- In the Dutch EMMY trial, which treated women in 2002 to 2004, the average return to paid work was 28.1 days after UFE compared with 63.4 days after hysterectomy.
- A 2014 Cochrane review of randomized trials found women resumed usual activities faster after UFE than after surgery in six studies.
If you have a desk job, these numbers suggest planning at least a week off, with a lighter schedule the week after if you can. If your work is physical, ask your doctor when lifting and long hours on your feet are safe.
Weeks 4 to 6: nearly everyone is back
The CIRSE 2015 guideline says return to normal activities and work is almost always possible 4 to 6 weeks after UFE. If you are still very tired, in steady pain or unable to manage your normal day at this point, tell your doctor so they can check on you.
Some women notice vaginal discharge in the weeks after UFE. A small number pass pieces of fibroid tissue. RadiologyInfo puts this at about 2 to 3% of patients, and occasionally a minor procedure is needed to remove tissue. Read more in passing fibroid tissue after UFE.
Months 2 to 6: when the results show
UFE works by shrinking fibroids gradually, so the benefit is not immediate. ACOG says it may take 2 to 3 months before you see a change in your symptoms, and fibroids may continue to shrink for a year or more. The CIRSE 2015 guideline says the maximal or final effect is seen at about 6 months.
How much shrinkage to expect varies. In the EMMY trial, the uterus shrank by an average of 48% and the dominant fibroid by 61% at 2 years. In the 374-patient same-day series, average shrinkage at 6 months was 30% for the uterus and 43% for the dominant fibroid. Your first periods after UFE may be irregular. In the US FIBROID Registry, 7.3% of women had no periods at 1 year, and 86% of those women were 45 or older.
Many programs schedule a follow-up visit and sometimes imaging in the months after UFE. Ask your doctor what your follow-up plan will be.
When to call your doctor
ACOG says pelvic pain and a low fever are normal after UFE. Call your doctor if you have:
- Pain so severe that your medicine does not help
- A fever higher than 101°F
- Nausea or vomiting
- Bleeding or pain where the catheter was inserted
- A change in the color or temperature of either leg
Infection is uncommon (the CIRSE 2015 guideline lists major infection in about 2.5% of cases), so also call if you have foul-smelling discharge, a fever that keeps rising, or pain that gets worse instead of better after the first week. If you have chest pain, sudden shortness of breath or heavy bleeding with dizziness, call 911.
To compare UFE recovery with other options, see our fibroid treatment guide. If you are planning ahead, our checklist on how to prepare for UFE covers time off, help at home and what to bring.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is recovery after UFE?
Most women return to normal activities within about 1 to 2 weeks, according to RadiologyInfo and ACOG. Some need longer, and the CIRSE 2015 guideline says return to normal activities and work is almost always possible by 4 to 6 weeks.
When can I go back to work after UFE?
In the FIRSTT trial, women took a median of 8 days off work after UFE. In the older EMMY trial, return to paid work took an average of 28 days. Desk jobs often allow an earlier return than physical jobs, so ask your doctor about your specific work.
When will my periods get lighter after UFE?
ACOG says it may take 2 to 3 months to notice a change in fibroid symptoms, and fibroids may keep shrinking for a year or more. The CIRSE 2015 guideline says the maximal effect is seen at about 6 months.
Is it normal to have a fever after UFE?
A low fever in the first few days is common and is part of post-embolization syndrome. ACOG advises calling your doctor for a fever higher than 101°F, pain that medicine does not help, nausea or vomiting, or bleeding or pain where the catheter went in.
Will I need to stay in the hospital?
It varies. ACOG says some women go home the same day and others stay overnight. In one published series of 374 same-day UFEs done through the wrist, the median time in recovery was about 3.7 hours.
Keep Reading
- Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) in New York City
- Post-Embolization Syndrome After UFE: What Is Normal and When to Call
- Is UFE Painful? What the Pain Feels Like and How It Is Controlled
- Passing Fibroid Tissue After UFE: Why It Happens and When to Call
- How to Prepare for UFE: Your Checklist From Consultation to Procedure Day
- UFE vs Hysterectomy: What 10 Years of Trial Data Show
- Fibroid Treatment Guide: every option, compared
Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, FAQ522 — Uterine Artery Embolization (last reviewed May 2026)
- RadiologyInfo.org (ACR/RSNA) — Uterine Fibroid Embolization
- van Overhagen & Reekers, Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol, 2015 — CIRSE standards of practice for uterine artery embolization
- Volkers et al., Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol, 2006 — EMMY trial: pain and return to work after UAE vs hysterectomy
- Barnard et al., Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2017 — FIRSTT trial: UAE vs focused ultrasound, periprocedural outcomes
- Edwards et al., N Engl J Med, 2007 — REST trial: UAE vs surgery (157 women)
- Gupta et al., Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2014 — UAE for symptomatic fibroids (7 RCTs, 793 women)
- AJR, 2021 — outcomes of 374 same-day transradial uterine artery embolizations
- Hehenkamp et al., Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2007 — EMMY trial 2-year outcomes
- Spies et al., Obstet Gynecol, 2005 — FIBROID Registry 1-year outcomes
Medically reviewed by David Fox, MD, FACS, RPVI. This article is general information, not a substitute for a medical evaluation.
Living with heavy periods, pelvic pressure or other fibroid symptoms? Schedule a consultation with Dr. David Fox at Fox Vein & Vascular in Manhattan to find out whether uterine fibroid embolization is right for you. Call (212) 362-3470 or request a UFE consultation online.
