LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)– Medical experts are urging women to undergo proper health evaluation before fibroid treatment, warning that unmanaged conditions such as diabetes or hypertension can increase the risk of life-threatening complications during surgical procedures.
Consultant gynaecologist and High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) specialist at the Fibroid Care Centre, a subsidiary of Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Tope Olowogbayi, has warned that untreated or poorly controlled health conditions may significantly increase the risk of complications or death during surgical treatment for symptomatic uterine fibroids.
Olowogbayi, a guest speaker at a conference organized by the Woman of Substance (WOS) to mark the 2026 International Women’s Day, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that proper medical evaluation and timely health checks are essential to preventing complications.
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous muscular tumours that develop in or on the wall of the uterus. According to the specialist, the condition affects an estimated 70 to 80 per cent of women by the age of 50. However, he explained that the real danger often emerges when fibroid treatment involves surgery while underlying medical conditions remain uncontrolled.
“A number of things could go wrong during or after an open surgery of fibroid, ranging from the anesthetic complications to unstabilised pre-morbid health conditions of the patient. People could react adversely to some of the drugs that are given during the procedure. Sometimes, it is possible that internal bleeding after the surgery may occur in the patient, and woman could die as a result,” he said.
In addition, he noted that complications could arise even after a seemingly successful surgery, emphasizing that careful medical evaluation before surgery is essential to reduce such risks.
“Most times, maybe the surgery had been successful… But because the patient is not moving around, the blood clot in the leg could get dislodged into circulation and that will block the patient’s breathing system… after a day or two days, the woman will suddenly just collapse and die,” Olowogbayi said.
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The gynecologist added, “Similarly, the pre-morbid condition of the patient is very important, and that’s why doctors need to properly evaluate a patient, to be able to stabilize any pre-morbid condition before the surgery. For instance, someone that is diabetic or hypertensive, doctors have to ensure that the diabetes or the hypertension is well controlled before the surgery.”
Meanwhile, Olowogbayi explained that several treatment options exist for fibroids, including High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), open surgery procedures such as myomectomy or hysterectomy, uterine artery embolization (UAE), radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and hormone therapy. He noted that treatment decisions vary depending on factors such as age, symptoms and reproductive goals.
Women nearing menopause may require different management approaches compared with those still in their reproductive years. While open surgery has traditionally been recommended, Olowogbayi highlighted the benefits of non-invasive treatment methods such as HIFU.
“For the non-invasive treatment option; it does not disturb the anatomy of the womb, it does not affect the endometrial lining particularly the ovaries. And that is why a lot of women have been able to conceived after treatment, following the non-invasive option. Because it is non-invasive in nature…there’s no scar formation at all – so, a woman will have her fibroid treated and nobody will know because there’s no scar. Also, there’s short hospital stay because the woman is usually discharged after two hours of the treatment and could resume normal activities after 72 hours/three days,” he said.
He added that unlike complications sometimes associated with open surgery, such risks are significantly reduced in non-invasive procedures.
Further highlighting the reproductive impact of fibroids, the Clinic Manager of Nordica Fertility Centre, Ms. Ranti Ajayi, said the condition could contribute to infertility in some women. She therefore, advised women to seek care from qualified medical professionals who can properly assess their health conditions and recommend the most suitable treatment option.
She also stressed the importance of creating safe spaces where women can access reliable health information and support systems.
In conclusion, greater awareness about fibroid risks, early diagnosis and proper medical evaluation before treatment could help many women avoid preventable complications while protecting their fertility and overall health.
(NAN)
