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In the late 1980s, a French Gynecologist named Jacques Ravina (whose practice was largely devoted to fibroid surgery) was pondering the problem of bleeding during fibroid surgery. He observed that, if a patient started to bleed after surgery, he would routinely ask the Interventional Radiologist to embolize (plug up) the uterine arteries, to stop the bleeding. He thought that if he had these patients embolized before surgery the incidence of bleeding during the operations would decrease.

Patients who had Uterine Artery Embolizations (UAE) weeks before a scheduled surgery soon started to cancel the surgery. The symptoms of bleeding, pain, and bulk sensation were relieved after the embolization. This serendipitous discovery has revolutionized the management of uterine fibroids.

Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE) in the US
Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE) for the management of fibroids was introduced into the United States by Drs. Bruce McLucas and Scott Goodwin in Los Angeles. Drs. Francis Hutchins and Robert Worthington-Kirsch began to perform UAE in 1996.

Dr. Worthington-Kirsch has since then amassed one of the largest single operator experiences in the world.

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