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Fibroids and Fertility: What Western New York Women Often Ask

Published August 4th, 2026 by Great Lakes Medical Imaging

If you are a woman of childbearing age in Buffalo or the surrounding suburbs, learning that you have fibroids can stir up a lot of questions at once. Many of those questions are not just about symptoms. They are about the future, and especially about whether you may still be able to have a baby someday.

Those are some of the most common and most personal questions our patients bring to Great Lakes Medical Imaging (GLMI), which serves families across Western New York, including Williamsville, Cheektowaga, Orchard Park, and Cambria in Niagara County. This article walks through what women here often ask about fibroids and fertility, and where a uterus-preserving option may fit into the conversation. It is not a promise about any outcome. It is a starting point for the discussion you will have with your own care team.

What Are Fibroids, Exactly?

Fibroids are benign, meaning non-cancerous, growths of the uterus. The word "benign" reassures many women, and it should. Fibroids are not dangerous in the way a malignant growth would be. At the same time, calling them harmless misses the real story for the women who live with them, because fibroids can be genuinely life-limiting depending on their size and location.

Symptoms that bring women to a provider often include:

Heavier or longer menstrual periods
Severe cramps and bloating during periods
Frequent urination
Pain down the back of one or both legs
Uterine pressure or pain
Abdominal enlargement

If any of that sounds familiar, you are not imagining it and you are not overreacting. These symptoms can shape how you plan your days, your work, and your time with family during a long Western New York winter. The good news is that fibroids can be evaluated clearly, and you have more than one path to consider.

The Question Behind the Question: Will This Affect My Fertility?

When women in their twenties, thirties, and early forties come in, a recurring theme rises to the surface. They want to know whether treating their fibroids will close the door on pregnancy, or whether there is a way to address symptoms while keeping their options open.

One of the most common questions is simply whether a given treatment preserves the uterus. That single concern often drives the entire decision. For a woman who hopes to carry a pregnancy in the future, an approach that removes the uterus is understandably hard to accept, even when symptoms are difficult.

This is exactly the right thing to ask early and often. Fertility planning is deeply individual. The answer that fits one woman may not fit her sister or her friend, because goals, age, symptoms, and overall health all play a part. There is no single correct choice that applies to everyone, which is why these conversations belong with your OB/GYN, your primary care provider, and the interventional radiology team working together.

Where Uterine Fibroid Embolization Fits

For women who want to keep their uterus, one minimally invasive option is uterine fibroid embolization, often shortened to UFE. It is performed by an interventional radiologist, a physician who uses imaging to guide treatments through the blood vessels rather than through open surgery.

Here is a brief look at how UFE works. The procedure is done with X-ray guidance and sedation. The physician makes a small incision, usually at the groin or wrist, and guides a thin catheter through the blood vessels to the artery that supplies the fibroid. Small particles are then injected to stop blood flow to the fibroid. Many patients stay overnight for observation and go home the next morning.

Compared with surgery, the listed benefits of UFE include:

Shorter recovery time
Minimal complication risk
Preserves the uterus
Potential for future pregnancy
Unlikely to cause menopause

It is worth being precise here, because this topic deserves honesty. UFE preserves the uterus and carries the potential for future pregnancy. That is different from a promise that it will improve fertility or make pregnancy more likely. Whether pregnancy is right for you, and whether UFE supports your particular goals, is a personal decision to make with your OB/GYN and the GLMI interventional radiology team. If you are weighing your choices, we welcome you to contact GLMI so we can help you understand what the path might look like for you.

How Imaging Helps You and Your Provider

Before any decision is made, clear pictures matter. Imaging gives your providers the detail they need to understand the size, number, and location of fibroids, which in turn supports thoughtful planning.

Two studies are especially helpful. An ultrasound is a comfortable, radiation-free way to look at the uterus and identify fibroids. When more detail is useful, an MRI can map fibroids with remarkable clarity. Good imaging does not make the decision for you. It simply gives everyone at the table the same accurate information, so the conversation about your goals can be grounded in fact rather than guesswork.

What This Looks Like as a Team Decision

Few medical choices feel as layered as the ones tied to fertility. That is why the right path depends on your goals and your circumstances, and why it should be discussed across your full care team. Your OB/GYN understands your reproductive history and plans. Your primary care provider knows your overall health. The GLMI interventional radiology team can explain what a minimally invasive option like UFE involves and whether it is a reasonable fit for you.

You do not have to figure this out alone, and you do not have to rush. Ask every question you have, including the ones that feel too personal to say out loud. Write them down before your appointment. The women who feel most at peace with their decision are usually the ones who took the time to understand each option and how it lined up with what they want for their life.

Convenient Care Across Western New York

GLMI offers imaging and interventional radiology care at convenient locations throughout the region:

If fibroids are affecting how you feel and you have questions about the future, the next step is a conversation. To learn more about uterus-preserving options and whether they suit your goals, you can schedule a consultation or call 716-836-4646 Option 4. We are here to help you understand your choices, in plain language, close to home in Buffalo and Western New York.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is intended for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider regarding any questions you may have about a medical condition or appropriate diagnostic testing. Individual health circumstances vary, and decisions about imaging or treatment should be made in consultation with your healthcare provider.

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