Incision-free, uterus-preserving treatment
HIFU For Fibroids
HIFU uses focused ultrasound to ablate selected uterine fibroids without an incision. It may be considered as a uterus-preserving option, while eligibility, risks, and recovery depend on the treating hospital’s assessment.
Discuss language, time, destination, and itinerary preferences. Do not submit medical records, images, or attachments here.
Typical hospital stay after treatment; actual discharge timing depends on clinical assessment.
Converted at CNY 7 = USD 1. The estimate includes pre-treatment assessment, treatment, and hospitalization. Costs are subject to individual assessment; the hospital’s itemized written estimate prevails.
Treatment Advantages In China
Development Of HIFU Treatment In China
Several centers in China have developed clinical experience with HIFU treatment for uterine fibroids. Equipment, team experience, and availability vary by center and must be confirmed with the receiving hospital.
Incision-Free, Uterus-Preserving Treatment Option
HIFU uses focused ultrasound energy to heat and ablate selected fibroid tissue without an incision. It may be considered as a uterus-preserving option for eligible patients. Hospital stay, fibroid response, fertility considerations, risks, and recovery vary by individual case and must be assessed by the treating team.
Clinical Experience At Selected Centers
Selected hospitals in China have established HIFU programs for uterine fibroids and adenomyosis. Treatment availability, team experience, equipment, and suitability must be confirmed with each hospital.
Estimated Treatment Costs
The estimated cost is approximately USD 2,900–7,100, converted at CNY 7 = USD 1, including pre-treatment assessment, treatment, and hospitalization. Costs vary by hospital and are subject to individual assessment; the hospital’s itemized written estimate prevails.
A Quick Look At HIFU Treatment For Uterine Fibroids
Quickly understand HIFU from treatment principles, eligibility assessment to recovery follow-up; the specific applicability and treatment plan will be evaluated by the receiving hospital.
Treatment Principles And Techniques
View detailsHIFU focuses extracorporeal ultrasound energy on the lesion through image guidance; ultrasound guidance and magnetic resonance guidance are two common technical routes in clinical practice.
Eligibility And Restrictions
View detailsWhether the patient is suitable for HIFU needs to be evaluated based on symptoms, lesion properties, imaging characteristics, acoustic channels, and birth plans, and unfavorable conditions such as malignant risks and pregnancy must be excluded.
Pre-Treatment Assessment
View detailsSystematic assessments such as gynecology, imaging, anemia, pregnancy, cervix and birth planning must be completed before treatment.
Treatment Process, Recovery And Follow-Up
View detailsThere are a total of 8 key links from data pre-review, hospital evaluation to image-guided ablation and long-term review.
Efficacy, Safety And Long-Term Management
View detailsPublished studies describe lesion shrinkage, symptom improvement, and safety results; HIFU does not prevent the formation of new fibroids, and long-term follow-up after treatment is still required and alternative pathways are maintained.
Care Journey
- 01
Remote Consultation And Matching
Our care coordination team will help you confirm the receiving hospital's requirements for preparing materials and the appropriate submission channel.
- 02
Trip Planning And Preparation
Our coordinators will assist in signing service agreements, applying for medical visas, booking air tickets and coordinating accommodation near the hospital.
- 03
Arrival Services
Arrange pick-up at the airport or station, and bilingual staff will accompany you for check-in.
- 04
Accompanying The Whole Process Of Diagnosis And Treatment In The Hospital
From examination, outpatient consultation to admission, you are accompanied by professional medical interpreters to ensure clear to doctor-patient communication.
- 05
Treatment And Rehabilitation Implementation
The hospital team performs HIFU treatments and develops an individualized recovery plan.
- 06
Discharge And Continuing Care
You will receive a detailed home rehabilitation plan and regular follow-up via online video.
Medical team
Review hospitals and specialists with relevant experience in this treatment. Availability, team composition, and admission arrangements must be confirmed with the receiving hospital.
Hospitals
The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
Chongqing
Its team is associated with the development and clinical research of China-developed focused-ultrasound systems.
The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University
Chongqing
A dedicated HIFU treatment unit provides focused-ultrasound ablation for uterine fibroids.
The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University
Changsha, Hunan
The gynecology team has extensive HIFU experience and multidisciplinary options for complex cases.
Frequently asked questions
Can HIFU completely “cut out” fibroids?
HIFU causes coagulation necrosis in the target area and then gradually shrinks it. It does not remove the fibroids from the body. The goals of treatment are to control symptoms, shrink the disease, and preserve the uterus.
Are all uterine fibroids suitable for HIFU?
No. Lesion nature, location, size, number, blood supply, MRI signal, acoustic channels, and adjacent organ relationships may affect feasibility. Must be comprehensively evaluated by the gynecology, imaging and HIFU teams.
Will HIFU affect fertility?
Preserving the uterus does not guarantee fertility outcomes. Those who plan to have children should be jointly evaluated by the gynecology, reproductive medicine and HIFU teams to clarify the preparation time and obstetric risks.
Does the treatment hurt? Is anesthesia required?
Different devices and hospitals use sedation, analgesia, or anesthesia differently. Patients may feel heat, lower abdominal pain, sacrococcygeal or lower limb discomfort, and need to report to the doctor in real time.
How long does treatment take?
MRgFUS lasts approximately 3 hours; USgHIFU duration is affected by the number of lesions, size, blood supply, acoustic channel, and actual ablation response.
How to choose between HIFU and myomectomy?
There is no one-size-fits-all approach, depending on the need for pathology, number and location of lesions, family planning, previous surgical history, risk appetite and team experience.
Will it relapse?
Possibly. Residual disease can grow again, and new fibroids may appear. A small number of patients require repeat HIFU, surgery, embolization, or drug therapy.
How long does it take to see fibroids shrink?
It usually changes gradually on a monthly basis and cannot promise a uniform reduction. Symptoms, hemoglobin, and imaging should all be included in follow-up.
How to choose a hospital and specialist?
Priority is given to confirming that the hospital currently has corresponding equipment and a stable team, and then looking at case volume, imaging evaluation, gynecological/reproductive/anesthetic support, complication management and long-term follow-up capabilities.
Detailed information
Treatment Principles And Techniques
Sources: Chinese Medical Association educational materials on HIFU; NICE guidance on MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS); and clinician-provided materials on ultrasound-guided HIFU (USgHIFU) and MRgFUS.
Image-Guided Localized Thermal Ablation
High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is an image-guided thermal ablation technique. It focuses ultrasound energy on selected fibroid tissue, raising its temperature and producing coagulative necrosis. The treated tissue may gradually shrink or be replaced by fibrotic tissue. The aim is to help control symptoms, reduce fibroid volume, and preserve the uterus rather than remove the fibroids immediately.
Ultrasound-Guided HIFU (USgHIFU/FUAS)
- Image guidance: real-time ultrasound positioning and monitoring
- Treatment position: usually prone, with the ultrasound beam entering through the abdominal wall
- Treatment monitoring: grayscale and echo changes in the target area, together with the patient’s response
- Post-treatment evaluation: contrast-enhanced MRI or ultrasound to assess nonperfused areas
- Limiting factors: acoustic window, abdominal-wall scarring, bowel gas, lesion depth, and other factors
Magnetic Resonance-Guided HIFU (MRgFUS/MR-HIFU)
- Image guidance: MRI multi-plane positioning, thermal imaging/temperature monitoring
- Common positions: Mostly prone, placed on an MRI-compatible treatment platform
- Treatment monitoring: temperature, thermal dose, and the safety of adjacent tissues
- Post-treatment evaluation: contrast-enhanced MRI to assess nonperfused volume
- Limiting factors: MRI contraindications, equipment accessibility, treatment time and cost, etc.
Eligibility And Restrictions
Sources: ACOG guidance on uterine fibroid symptoms and treatment options; clinician-provided materials.
Requires Assessment By Gynecology, Imaging, And HIFU Teams
- Uterine fibroids have been assessed as benign, with heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding or secondary anemia.
- There are compression or pain symptoms such as lower abdominal distension, frequent urination, constipation, dysmenorrhea, and pelvic pain.
- The patient wishes to preserve the uterus and is unwilling or unsuitable to undergo myomectomy or hysterectomy.
- Fibroid-related fertility concerns require individual assessment by gynecology, reproductive medicine, and HIFU teams.
- MRI and ultrasound findings indicate that the fibroid’s location, imaging characteristics, blood supply, and acoustic window may be suitable for ablation.
Requires Exclusion Or Further Evaluation
- If the nature of the lesion is unclear or there is a risk of malignant tumors such as uterine sarcoma, malignancy must be ruled out first.
- Pregnancy, active infection, severe uncorrected anemia, or intolerance to therapeutic positioning/sedation.
- Abdominal-wall scarring, bowel position or gas that obstructs the ultrasound beam, or fibroids too close to the bladder, sacrum, nerves, or other critical structures.
- Contraindications to MRI or contrast agents may restrict the use of MRgFUS; specific limitations are determined by the hospital’s imaging team.
- Patients expecting complete removal of all fibroids, prevention of new fibroids, or surgical pathology from a single treatment require further counselling about the procedure’s limitations.
Pre-Treatment Assessment
Sources: Clinician-provided materials; ACR Appropriateness Criteria, 2023.
Pre-Treatment Assessment Checklist
- Gynecological examination and transvaginal ultrasound.
- Contrast-enhanced MRI of the pelvis for assessment of lesion nature, location, blood supply, T2 signal, and adjacent structures.
- Complete blood count and assessment of anemia severity, with correction of anemia when necessary before treatment.
- Rule out pregnancy.
- Cervical screening; if the results are abnormal, complete the corresponding diagnosis and treatment first.
- Endometrial evaluation when indicated by abnormal uterine bleeding, elevated risk, or abnormal imaging.
- Previous abdominal/pelvic surgery and scar evaluation.
- Evaluate the relationship of the fibroid to the bowel, bladder, sacrum, and nerves.
- Determine whether the MRI T2 signal, enhancement characteristics, and blood supply are conducive to ablation.
- Assessment of malignancy risk based on age, menopausal status, growth rate, and imaging characteristics.
- For patients with fertility goals, assessment of reproductive plans, ovarian reserve, and other factors affecting fertility.
- Review of previous medications, surgeries, uterine artery embolization, and other interventional treatments.
Treatment Process, Recovery And Follow-Up
Source: NICE MRgFUS Procedure and Safety Monitoring; Physician Sourcebook.
Data Pre-Review
Submit ultrasound, contrast-enhanced MRI original images and reports, blood routine, gynecological history, birth plan and previous treatment records.
Hospital Evaluation
The nature of the lesion, acoustic channels, adjacent organs, and anesthesia/sedation risks are reviewed by the gynecology and imaging/HIFU teams.
Plan Confirmation
Describe the pros and cons of HIFU, myomectomy, uterine artery embolization, medications, or observation, and complete informed consent.
Treatment Preparation
Complete diet, bowel, skin and bladder preparation per hospital protocol; do not discontinue anticoagulation or other long-term medications on your own.
Image Guided Ablation
Position and apply energy layer by layer, monitor the target area and patient response in real time; adjust the sound beam path and dose if necessary.
Instant Assessment
Assess the nonperfused area and surrounding tissue with contrast-enhanced MRI or contrast-enhanced ultrasound.
Observation And Discharge
Pay attention to pain, fever, skin changes, numbness/nervous symptoms in the lower limbs, vaginal discharge, and urination and defecation.
Follow-Up Management
Symptoms, hemoglobin, and imaging will be reviewed at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months per hospital protocol; thereafter, long-term follow-up will be conducted based on risk.
Efficacy, Safety And Long-Term Management
Lesion Shrinkage And Symptom Improvement
Multi-center clinical studies in China report that fibroid volume is usually reduced by about 15%–30% 1 month after treatment, about 35%–60% at 3 months, and about 45%–65% at 6 months; in some patients with good screening and adequate ablation, the reduction can reach 60%–75% at 12 months. Symptoms of menorrhagia, anemia, lower abdominal distension, frequent urination, pelvic pain, and compression usually improve gradually as the lesions shrink.
Multicenter Comparative Study
A total of 2,411 cases were included in the prospective, multicenter, non-randomized comparative study in 20 hospitals in China, including 1,353 cases of HIFU, 586 cases of myomectomy, and 472 cases of hysterectomy. The average non-perfusion volume ratio in the HIFU group is about 87.2%; short-term complications, pain, hospitalization and recovery burden are lower than those of surgery, long-term symptoms and quality of life improvement are generally close to those of surgery, and major adverse events are about 0.2%. Source: Popular science cases of the Chinese Medical Association; Research on factors affecting long-term recurrence; 2022 systematic review.
Long-Term Follow-Up And Alternative Treatments
HIFU does not prevent the formation of new fibroids, nor does it guarantee complete ablation of all lesions at once. ACOG suggests that further treatment may still be needed after MRI-guided focused ultrasound treatment; according to the FIRSTT comparative study cited by ACR, the reintervention rate of MRgFUS was higher than that of uterine artery embolization. For those who are young, have multiple lesions, have high blood supply or have insufficient ablation, long-term follow-up and alternative treatments should be clearly defined.
