A medical professional, Dr Abayomi Ajay, has drawn attention to the benefits of non-invasive fibroid treatment, highlighting its potential to improve fertility outcomes and reduce surgical risks for women in Nigeria.

Speaking during My Period Stories event in Lagos, Ajayi, a fertility specialist, advocated for awareness and access to High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), a technology-driven approach to treating uterine fibroids.

Ajayi explained that the procedure involves no surgical incisions or general anaesthesia, as it uses ultrasound waves that are converted into heat energy to destroy fibroid tissue at high temperatures, while leaving surrounding organs untouched.

He said one major advantage of HIFU is that patients can conceive within three months after the procedure and still deliver vaginally compared to traditional surgeries, where conception might take six months or longer, with the risk of damaging the uterus or endometrium higher.

He stressed that fibroid treatment must be individualised, as not every woman is eligible for HIFU, with factors such as obesity or prior liposuction affecting eligibility.

The Convener and Team Lead of Sanitary Pad Media Campaign (SPMC), Anikade Funke-Treasure, noted that fibroids remain a largely silent issue, despite how common they are, which often prevents women from seeking early diagnosis or exploring safer treatment options.

Funke-Treasure said the significance of the initiative is to bring the discussion offline, create a community around menstrual health beyond digital platforms and amplify these issues to bridge the gap between those still in the closet and those willing to talk openly.

She further explained that these would normalise conversations around periods and fibroids, helping women own their stories and speak out without shame or fear.

“Many women don’t even know non-invasive treatments exist, which can be lifesaving compared to traditional fibroid surgeries where risks are higher. Our goal is to make these conversations mainstream, shifting narratives and encouraging research, funding and greater accessibility,” she said.