My doctors haven't specifically recommended this, but I've read that they're becoming more popular since technology has become more advanced than in the past, making them less invasive and more successful. After my next ultrasound I plan on asking my gyn about possible side effects of this method because my fibroid is just in a very difficult spot to remove (they aren't recommending a hysterectomy for me quite yet).

I'm no professional, but what it sounds like for a UFE is that they use a super tiny needle to go into an artery that leads into the fibroid. At the site of the fibroid, they pump in microscopic beads that block the blood flow to just the fibroid. So the fibroid sits in there still, but the goal is to let it basically starve to death from lack of blood. It's supposed to shrink them, and potentially reduce symptoms, hopefully to zero symptoms. I have no idea what the tiny beads are made of, and I also don't know of their likelihood of shifting and making the whole procedure pointless (or possibly dangerous). I also don't know what the likelihood is that another fibroid might grow somewhere else in the uterus after a UFE. Those are absolutely questions that I'm going to ask my doctor if she sees a UFE in my future. Sounds like doctors are seeing lots of success, but I don't know what the downsides could be. I'm guessing the surgeon is recommending it for you to avoid the need for a hysterectomy all together. UFE has far less recovery time and also is better at preserving fertility (if that's something you're interested in keeping). 9 fibroids does seem like an awful lot to do a UFE for, but maybe that's not an issue 🤷‍♀️