Nigeria’s sole HIFU provider calls for more centres to expand fibroid treatment access

Nigeria’s limited access to non-invasive fibroid treatment has come into focus as Nordica Fibroid Care Centre called for more medical facilities to adopt high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), after recording 1,000 treatments over five years.

Abayomi Ajayi, founder and chief executive officer of the centre, said Nigeria remained the only country in West Africa offering HIFU for fibroid treatment, highlighting the need for wider adoption of alternatives to surgery across the region.

Ajayi said the centre’s experience showed the importance of expanding treatment choices for women while ensuring that medical decisions account for their fertility plans, psychological wellbeing and quality of life.

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“When we introduced HIFU to West Africa, our goal was simple but ambitious: to offer precise ablative treatment that destroys targeted tissue without surgical incisions or removal of the uterus,” he said.

He called for greater clinical collaboration to improve treatment approaches and expand access to non-invasive fibroid care across Africa, describing the 1,000-treatment milestone as a starting point rather than an end goal.

“We are not presenting our experience as a final destination but as an invitation to collaborate, refine our approach and expand access to non-invasive fibroid treatment across Africa,” Ajayi added.

HIFU uses focused ultrasound energy to heat and destroy targeted fibroid tissue without surgical incisions. The treated tissue gradually shrinks over time, potentially reducing symptoms associated with fibroids.

Unlike open myomectomy, which involves surgically removing fibroids, or hysterectomy, which removes the uterus, HIFU offers eligible women an alternative that does not require the removal of the uterus.

However, the procedure is not suitable for every patient. Eligibility depends on factors including the size, location and characteristics of the fibroids, while treatment outcomes can vary.

Ajayi’s call for more centres comes against the backdrop of the significant physical, psychological, social and economic effects of fibroids, which can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, pain and disruption to daily activities.

He said doctors must look beyond the clinical treatment of fibroids to address the broader challenges women face, warning that an exclusive focus on the growths could leave important aspects of patients’ wellbeing unattended.

“When we look at uterine fibroids and adenomyosis through the clinical lens, every clinician in this room knows that the true impact of these conditions extends far beyond the physical symptoms. Fibroids and adenomyosis represent a multidimensional crisis for women. It is psychological and social as well,” he posited.

According to Ajayi, some women experience anxiety, diminished self-esteem and strained relationships because of their symptoms, while others conceal their condition or endure heavy bleeding without seeking medical attention.

He said the centre had begun working with a psychologist to support some patients, reflecting the need for more comprehensive care that considers emotional and social wellbeing alongside clinical treatment.

The condition also carries economic consequences, including lost working hours, repeated medical expenses and interruptions to daily responsibilities. Ajayi said some women were unable to go to work because of their symptoms.

He added that treatment decisions should take account of women’s reproductive plans, noting that the available options differ in their implications for fertility and the preservation of the uterus.

For women who want to preserve their uterus, access to appropriate alternatives is particularly important. However, preserving the uterus does not automatically guarantee future fertility, and treatment choices should be based on individual clinical assessments and reproductive goals.

Reflecting on the 1,000 treatments, Ajayi said the milestone represented more than changes in fibroid size or symptom severity, pointing to the potential benefits of treatment for women’s personal and professional lives.

“Today, as we reflect on 1,000 treatments, we are not merely presenting clinical safety data, volume reduction rates or improvements in symptom severity scores. We are celebrating 1,000 opportunities to restore lives. We are talking about women returning to their families and careers, reclaiming their bodily integrity and regaining hope,” he said.

He added that the centre expected subsequent treatments to increase as awareness of non-invasive options grew.

“This milestone is not about the machine, it is about choice. For too long, women had only one choice. We have completed 1,000 treatments, and the next 1,000 will come faster because West African women deserve world-class care,” he said.

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The milestone places renewed attention on how Nigeria can expand access to advanced women’s healthcare beyond a limited number of providers. Wider adoption of HIFU would require appropriate clinical expertise, equipment, patient assessment and follow-up care.

For Ajayi, the priority is to ensure that women have access to medically appropriate treatment options and are supported in making informed decisions about their health.

The centre’s five-year experience reinforces the need for collaboration and more individualised care, with treatment decisions guided not only by the fibroid itself but also by the woman’s circumstances, symptoms and reproductive priorities, he said.