Percutaneous trans-catheter embolization has been practised by radiologists for well over 20 years. In many different clinical situations a great variety of embolization materials or agents has been used in all parts of the body, but generally these procedures have been performed rarely. An important indication is severe bleeding not responding to conservative measures, where the alternative treatment would involve major surgery. Embolization has also been used in tumours, particularly where they are hypervascular, when the role has often been to debulk and devascularize immediately prior to surgery. The third main indication is in arteriovenous malformations and fistulae. Thus, it is somewhat surprising that it was not until 1995 that uterine artery embolization (UAE) was first advocated as a treatment for uterine fibroid disease.