When fibroids cause pain or other problems, doctors traditionally recommend hysterectomies to remove the uterus and more than 200,000 hysterectomies are performed each year for this. Menopause doesn t shrink fibroids. Uterine artery embolization or UAE is safe, simple, cost-effective, with no lengthy hospital stays, symptom relief is immediate and no cutting, general anesthesia and less downtime keep your uterus, too.