Revolutionary HIFU Treatment Offers Kenyan Women Non-Surgical Hope Against Fibroids and Fertility Challenges

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) is transforming fibroid treatment in Kenya. The non-invasive technology uses concentrated ultrasound waves to shrink fibroids without surgery. Patients avoid hospital stays, scarring, and long recovery periods. Most women return to normal activities shortly after the procedure.

Lucy Muliko, 42, from Nairobi, has battled fibroids since 2016. The condition affected her fertility despite years of trying to conceive. “I tried IVF, but it didn’t work. I was advised to have surgery, but my anaemia made it risky,” she says. Before discovering HIFU, Lucy relied on medication to manage heavy bleeding and pain. The drugs eased symptoms but could not remove the fibroids.

By 2022, her situation worsened. Heavy periods worsened her anaemia and made surgery risky. Determined to avoid invasive treatment, she researched alternatives and discovered HIFU. “I still dream of being a mother and wanted a treatment that would let me try naturally,” Lucy explains.

Reproductive health specialist Dr. Maina Ngoigo notes that not all patients qualify. “HIFU’s success depends on the size, number, and location of fibroids,” he says. The ultrasound waves target fibroid tissue, shrinking it gradually while leaving surrounding organs unharmed. The body then clears the treated tissue naturally.

For Lucy, HIFU offered a safe solution with no blood loss, minimal pain, and no scarring. The procedure uses a water-filled cushion to protect the skin from heat reaching 60°C to 100°C. Patients are lightly sedated and monitored throughout.

HIFU provides multiple benefits: no surgery, minimal discomfort, fast recovery, and improved chances of conception. Studies indicate 25–50% of women experience fibroid symptoms, while 10–20% of Kenyan women are affected. Fibroids can cause infertility in 1–3% of cases.

Kenya joins Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria, and Tanzania in offering HIFU. Though research on focused ultrasound dates back to the 1950s, its application in reproductive health has gained momentum recently. “I feel like I have my life back. I still believe I will become a mother one day,” Lucy says.

HIFU represents a breakthrough for women seeking safe, effective, non-surgical treatment for fibroids and renewed hope for fertility.