What is UFE? - Contraindications: Who's Not a Candidate

Pregnancy - although fibroids can be problematic during pregnancy, UFE cannot be performed due to concerns about radiation and decreased placental blood flow to the fetus.
Presence of cancer.
Active infection, either pelvic inflammatory disease or elsewhere in the body, due to potential for infecting the dead fibroids.
Presence of an IUD – should be removed, if possible, to lessen risk of infection.
Post-menopausal patients - not much further reduction in fibroids is expected beyond menopause. Fibroids that are growing on hormone replacement therapy (atypical) can be considered for UFE, but risk of cancer is higher in post-menopausal patients and would need to be excluded.
Patients with history of severe allergic reaction to xray contrast.
Patients with renal insufficiency have higher risk of kidney toxicity from contrast (relative contraindication).