UFE vs Hysterectomy for Fibroid Symptoms: Effects on Sex Life

This article was medically authored by Dr. Eric Hardee and last reviewed for accuracy on 06/08/2026.

As interventional radiologists, we always want patients to consider every fibroid treatment option. And, we want women to find the least invasive treatment that will provide them with symptom relief. We also want them to fully understand the after effects of any treatment option they select. To help, today's post reviews findings from several studies that compare the fibroid symptom relief women experience from UFE vs Hysterectomy, along with comparisons of their post-procedural recovery and the effects treatment has on their sex lives.

Key Takeaways

• Studies reveal that UFE and hysterectomy both deliver long-term, effective symptom relief
• Research reveals that up to 20% of women experience sexual dysfunction after hysterectomy
• There are no reported cases of worsened sexual health following UFE

Women with Fibroid Symptoms Find Relief

Love + Hip Hop Miami Star Shay Johnson has bravely shared her fibroid story, helping women understand treatment options such as UFE vs hysterectomy. When Shay first got her fibroid diagnosis, tumors were growing on her ovaries. She's said that the fibroids gave her blood clots that were "larger than the palm of her hand." She also developed anemia, and fainted several times. Eventually, Johnson chose myomectomy: surgery to remove her fibroids.

But she wants every woman to find her own best treatment option. Because, she told USA Fibroid Centers, "Experiencing fibroids was the most painful, depressing experience ever. "I went through it for a reason. It's time we have more conversations around fibroid disease."

Naturally, we think that conversation should involve real facts about the effects of UFE vs Hysterectomy. Luckily, we have that kind of evidence thanks to the 10 year EMMY study.

It followed women who treated fibroids that caused heavy menstrual bleeding. Researchers compared two groups: those who’d had UFE and those who’d had a hysterectomy. Women in both groups reported on their clinical results and on improvements in their overall quality of life.

Here’s the great news: after 10 years, two-thirds of UFE patients didn't need hysterectomies. That’s because their symptoms had resolved.  Around 35% of the women did go on to have a hysterectomy, but the rest found relief without radical surgery. And, even within the hysterectomy group, 17% of women required follow-up surgical procedures.

Jim Reekers, lead researcher of the EMMY study, says: “After 10-years of follow-up, about two-thirds of patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids, who undergo treatment with embolization can avoid a hysterectomy.”

He went on to state that after 10 years, women in both the UFE and hysterectomy groups had similar quality of life results. In conclusion, he said, “Uterine artery embolization is a well-documented and good alternative to hysterectomy for symptomatic uterine fibroids, on which all eligible patients should be counselled.”

How Does UFE vs Hysterectomy Affect Your Sexual Health?

While both fibroid treatments can effectively address fibroid symptoms, they differ greatly in terms of side effects, especially when it comes to sexual health. Research reveals that, while many women's sexual wellbeing improves after a hysterectomy, 10 and 20% have devastating sexual side effects following the surgical removal of the uterus. (Those symptoms are often worsened when the ovaries are also removed during surgery.)

How does a hysterectomy affect sexual life? Following surgery, women may experience:

• Difficulties becoming aroused
• Reduced sexual desire,
• Painful sex
• Changes to their orgasm

In contrast, the EFUZEN study found that 78.8% of women said their sex life had improved after undergoing UFE for uterine fibroids. They noted reduced pain during sex and increases in their desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm and overall satisfaction.

And remember that EMMy trial we talked about earlier? It didn't just compare symptom relief between UFE and hysterectomy treatments: it also looked at the treatments' effects on sexual health. And here's what they concluded: women who chose UFE enjoyed significant improvements in sexual function, while women who had a hysterectomy didn't. In fact, many of the participants noted that their sex lives worsened after the surgery.

Given these findings, it seems strange that so many women still choose hysterectomy over UFE. And, for some women, that happens because they're never told about UFE; others believe it's a new, unproven treatment. But that couldn't be farther from the truth.

History of Uterine Artery Embolization

Uterine artery embolization, or uterine fibroid embolization, has been a viable fibroid treatment option since 1995. So why aren’t more women opting for this less invasive procedure? The sad answer is: many women don’t even know it’s an option.

As Reekers told Interventional News: “Not informing patients about uterine fibroid embolization, when these 10-year data are available, is unethical. Uterine fibroid embolization is an interventional radiology procedure that has level one evidence to back its use. In this trial, we treated the worst end-stage scenario without any reintervention, so real world outcomes for embolization will be even better.”

UFE vs. Hysterectomy: Equal Results, Traumatic Differences

In conclusion, EMMY study authors found that UFE is a very effective fibroid treatment option. In fact, it was just as effective as hysterectomy. As the study authors reported, “After 10 years, generic health-related quality of life remained stable, without differences between both groups. The urogenital distress inventory and the defecation distress inventory showed a decrease in both groups, without significant differences between study arms, but with a trend towards better outcome for uterine artery embolization.”

Moreover, additional studies revealed that UFE can boost women's sexual health, while a hysterectomy can lead to sexual dysfunction. And there is yet another important difference between the two treatment options. UFE’s recovery time is typically minimal. The aftermath of a hysterectomy can be felt for months, and even years, following the procedure. Want to learn more about UFE and explore your candidacy for this procedure? We're here to help. Just reach out to our team and request a consultation at one of our seven locations in the greater Houston and Dallas regions. We'll make sure that you understand all your treatment options, making the best choice for all facets of your health.

Sources: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Interventional News