No Woman Should Die of Fibroids – Expert Urges Adoption of Non-Invasive HIFU Treatment in Nigeria

Women in Nigeria diagnosed with fibroids or adenomyosis have been advised to seek timely medical intervention and explore modern, non-invasive treatment options to avoid needless suffering or death.

Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, Chief Executive Officer of the Fibroid Care Centre in Lagos, made this appeal at the My Period Stories Watch Party themed “Fighting Fibroids: The Non-Invasive Procedure,” organised by the Sanitary Pad Media Campaign in partnership with the Fibroid Care Centre.

Highlighting the potential of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) technology, Dr. Ajayi described it as a safe, effective, and fertility-preserving alternative to open surgery. HIFU uses targeted ultrasound waves to destroy fibroids without incisions, hospital admission, or blood transfusion.

“The world is moving from invasive to non-invasive fibroid treatment for good reasons,” Ajayi said. “Statistics from France show that 20 out of every 100,000 patients who underwent fibroid surgery—especially hysterectomy—died. Another 2,000 experienced serious complications ranging from fever and blood transfusion needs to deep vein thrombosis.”

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He explained that HIFU eliminates most surgical risks, as there is no cutting, no anaesthesia, and minimal chances of complications when performed correctly. In addition, the recurrence rate of fibroids after HIFU is generally lower than after surgery, and even if fibroids reappear, the procedure can be repeated safely.

According to him, the method preserves reproductive health, enabling women to conceive and have normal pregnancies post-treatment.

Dr. Ajayi, however, stressed that HIFU may not be suitable for every case. “The goal is to examine all available treatment options and select the most appropriate based on factors such as fibroid type, location, patient weight, medical history, and prior surgeries,” he noted.