A diagnosis of uterine fibroids in Nigeria has often led to discussions about surgery, but the introduction of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) treatment is changing this narrative. HIFU is a non-invasive medical treatment that uses focused ultrasound waves to target and destroy fibroid tissue without affecting surrounding organs. This technology has been transforming healthcare delivery worldwide, and its adoption in Nigeria is expanding women's access to quality care and safer treatment options.
For decades, surgical procedures such as myomectomy and hysterectomy have been the primary treatment options for uterine fibroids. However, these procedures come with risks associated with anaesthesia, bleeding, infection, and postoperative pain. HIFU offers a different approach, providing a non-invasive treatment option that does not require cuts, stitches, or prolonged hospital stays. According to Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, Managing Director of Nordica Fertility Centre and Fibroid Care Centre, HIFU has successfully treated over 500,000 women with fibroids without surgery in more than 37 countries.
Introduced in 2002 at the University of Oxford, HIFU is now available in five African countries, including Nigeria. The technology was first introduced in South Africa, followed by Egypt, Nigeria, and later Kenya, with thousands of women embracing the procedure. At Nordica Fertility Centre and Fibroid Care Centre, Dr. Ajayi and his team have completed the 1,000th HIFU treatment, marking a significant milestone in the adoption of this technology in Nigeria.
Uterine fibroids are benign tumours of the uterus and one of the most common gynaecological conditions affecting women during their reproductive years. They can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, pain, pressure symptoms, and reproductive difficulties. For generations, surgery has played a central role in treating symptomatic fibroids, but HIFU is changing this approach. Dr. Ajayi noted that HIFU is essential in expanding women's access to quality care and safer treatment options amid the challenges confronting the health sector.
The benefits of HIFU treatment in fibroid management in Nigeria are numerous. Instead of making an incision, HIFU concentrates ultrasound energy at a precisely identified target within the body, generating heat that ablates the targeted fibroid tissue while protecting surrounding structures. The treated tissue is subsequently broken down by the body, and the fibroid progressively shrinks. This approach eliminates the risks associated with surgery and provides a safer treatment option for women.
Completing 1,000 HIFU treatments in Nigeria represents a significant achievement, demonstrating that advanced, non-invasive reproductive health technology can be successfully introduced, adapted, and delivered at scale within the healthcare system. Dr. Ajayi noted that this milestone represents more than just a numerical achievement; it represents 1,000 women who were able to consider an additional treatment option for conditions that can profoundly affect their everyday lives.
The true value of medical technology is not measured by how sophisticated the machine is, but by what it changes for the patient. For women living with debilitating heavy periods, chronic pelvic pain, or pressure, fibroids can disrupt work, relationships, sexual wellbeing, emotional health, and everyday quality of life. The ability to treat selected fibroids with HIFU provides a new lease of life for women, offering a safer and more effective treatment option.
Key points
- Over 1,000 Nigerian women have reportedly been treated with HIFU technology without surgical cuts, stitches, or blood loss.
- HIFU is now used in more than 37 countries and has successfully treated over 500,000 women with fibroids without surgery.
- The technology provides a non-invasive treatment option for women with uterine fibroids, eliminating the risks associated with surgery.
