Health experts have emphasised the need for increased awareness of uterine fibroids to improve the quality of life of women and address reproductive health needs.
Studies show that Nigeria has one of the highest rates of uterine fibroids compared to other regions. Research in Nigerian teaching hospitals reveals that fibroids are responsible for a large percentage of gynaecological hospital admissions and surgical interventions.
Uterine fibroid, also known as leiomyomas, has become a significant health issue in Nigeria, with studies reporting prevalence rates ranging from 14.2 per cent to 33.9 per cent among women undergoing gynaecological care.
Uterine fibroids are benign tumours that develop from the smooth muscle tissue of the uterus and are the most common non-cancerous growths affecting women of reproductive age.
Historically, surgery has been the primary method for removing uterine fibroids, and many women suffer from fibroids silently due to the fear of surgery. However, while surgery is the option for some women, a non-surgical option called High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) has emerged as a viable alternative.
Speaking during a virtual event to commemorate this year’s Fibroid Awareness Month, Dr Abayomi Ajayi, CEO of the Nordica Fibroid Care Centre, said that early detection of fibroids offers patients a high level of opportunity to treat the condition without surgery.
Abayomi explained that the biggest problem in fibroid management and treatment is the low level of awareness, as many patients seek care late when the Fibroid has grown big. He explained that HIFU does not affect fertility, and the procedure is a safe option for people who still want to have children. It also offers a low rate of complications, and general anaesthesia use is eliminated.
According to him, HIFU offers a minimally invasive method for treating fibroids by using focused ultrasound waves to heat and destroy the fibroid tissue.
Also speaking, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Dr John Bakut, expressed concern about the dearth of knowledge about HIFU, and urged women who had treated fibroids using HIFU to champion the advocacy to reach more people.
Narrating her experience, Nkem Okoli, said she was diagnosed with fibroid but due to fear of surgery, she was busy taking herbal remedies with a promise that the Fibroid would dissolve naturally.
Many years after attempting to get rid of the Fibroid through other means, Okoli said that the Fibroid continues to get bigger, after which she eventually got it removed through surgery, but the growth resurfaced and was finally treated using HIFU.
