Common effects
Lower abdominal pain or cramping, a sense of warmth or tenderness in the skin over the treated area, and vaginal discharge or light bleeding for some days. These usually settle without treatment.
Less common risks
Skin burns or heat injury on the abdomen, nerve irritation causing leg or buttock pain, and, rarely, injury to nearby organs such as the bowel if they lie in the beam path. Serious complications are uncommon when patients are selected and monitored carefully.
How risks are reduced
Careful selection by scan so that the beam path is clear, continuous monitoring during treatment with the energy adjusted as needed, pauses when you report discomfort, and a scan immediately afterwards. At Podo the doctor who treats you also manages your aftercare.
Questions to ask
How many HIFU treatments does the clinic perform, and who performs them? Is my fibroid a good target, and why? What happens if I feel pain during treatment? How will follow-up work once I am home?