Nigeria Records 730 Non-invasive Fibroid Procedures

As the world marks Fibroid Awareness Month, Nigeria has recorded a medical milestone in women’s reproductive health with 730 non-invasive fibroid procedures performed using High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) technology.

The feat was achieved by Nordica Fibroid Care Centre, Lagos, under the leadership of Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, a pioneer of HIFU technology in Nigeria and West Africa. The development is being hailed as a breakthrough for thousands of Nigerian women seeking alternatives to invasive surgeries such as myomectomy or hysterectomy.

Ajayi, in an interview with LEADERSHIP, emphasised the need for a national rethink of the conventional fibroid care model which defaults to open surgery, often accompanied by painful recovery, hospital admissions, and risks of complications such as blood loss and infertility.

„HIFU is revolutionizing fibroid care in Nigeria and beyond, offering a non-invasive alternative to traditional surgery.

With over 700 women successfully treated, we have shown that it is possible to provide effective, scar-free care that lets women return home the same day and resume normal life by the next,“ Ajayi said.

HIFU uses targeted ultrasound waves to destroy fibroid tissue without any cuts, anesthesia, or blood transfusion. Patients are fully conscious during the procedure and can often return to normal activities within 24 to 48 hours.

Ajayi pointed out that in countries like France, over 41,000 hysterectomies were carried out in 2017 alone, many with avoidable complications. He warned that continuing with business-as-usual in Nigeria poses long-term health and fertility risks to millions of women, especially Black women who have a 70 to 80 percent lifetime risk of developing fibroids by age 50.

“Should we continue to treat fibroids the same way we have done for decades, which is cutting open women for conditions that can be managed non-invasively? I think it is time to shift the conversation,” he said.

Despite growing interest in safer options, Ajayi noted that many Nigerian women remain unaware of HIFU, or are held back by misconceptions and fears fueled by lack of information.

Yet, for those who have undergone the procedure, the outcomes have been life-changing.

Rebecca, a former patient diagnosed with adenomyosis, shared how her uterus shrank from 22 weeks to just 10 weeks in under six months following HIFU. “The fatigue is gone. The pain is gone. I feel like myself again,“ she said.

Another patient, Nkem, recounted a 14-year struggle with fibroids, including a prior myomectomy in 2012 and failed herbal treatments before finally discovering HIFU in 2022. “Today, all my symptoms are gone. I have taken my life back,” she said.

Perhaps most compelling is Rebecca’s fertility journey. After treatment, she conceived naturally and gave birth to a healthy baby girl in November 2023. “My daughter is the evidence. I used to think I could never carry a child again,” she said.

While the success rate is impressive, Ajayi clarified that HIFU is not suitable for everyone. Absolute contraindications include suspicion of cancer in the fibroid or pelvic region and the inability to lie still on one’s back for at least two hours. “Other factors like severe obesity, submucous fibroids, or previous pelvic surgeries may also require simulation before treatment. But even in those cases, we often combine HIFU with hysteroscopy to achieve the best outcome,“ he said.

He added that HIFU is safe for women hoping to conceive, unlike some surgeries that may reduce reproductive options. “We have had patients conceive and deliver naturally after HIFU. That is one of the greatest assurances we can give women today,” Ajayi stated.