Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Clinical Trial
. 2025 Feb;104(2):350-356.
doi: 10.1111/aogs.15041. Epub 2024 Dec 19.

Ultrasound guided microwave ablation treatment of uterine fibroids: Clinical response and patient acceptability

Gudny Jonsdottir  1   2 , Marie Beermann  2   3 , Erika Lanz  1   2 , Ava Nikodell  2 , Annika Cronsioe  1 , Klara Hasselrot  1   2 , Helena Kopp-Kallner  1   2
Affiliations
Clinical Trial

Ultrasound guided microwave ablation treatment of uterine fibroids: Clinical response and patient acceptability

Gudny Jonsdottir et al. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2025 Feb.

Abstract

Introduction: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of ultrasound guided microwave ablation for treating symptoms related to uterine fibroids.

Material and methods: This was a prospective interventional study. Patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids were included at Danderyd Hospital, Sweden, from January 2020 to August 2023. All patients were treated with percutaneous or vaginal ultrasound guided microwave ablation. Primary outcome was reduction of fibroid symptoms evaluated by the validated uterine fibroid symptom and quality of life (UFS-QoL) questionnaire at 6 months post-treatment. Location of each fibroid was noted. Secondary outcomes included reduction of menstruation blood loss, change in hemoglobin, ferritin and Anti-Müllerian hormone, fibroid volume difference, hospitalization, acceptability, and postoperative pain. Clinical trials registration number NCT04240262.

Results: Symptoms from uterine fibroids decreased by 37% (p < 0.001) on the symptom severity scale and health-related quality of life increased by 74% (p < 0.001). Menstrual blood loss decreased by 38% (p < 0.001) according to the Pictorial Bleeding Assessment Chart and median fibroid shrinkage of the three largest treated fibroids was 64% (p < 0.001). Highest median shrinkage rate (82) was seen in submucous fibroids. A total of 110 of 113 (97%) patients left the hospital on the day of treatment. We experienced one adverse event (0.8%) Clavien Dindo grade 3. Acceptability was high and postoperative pain was mild to moderate.

Conclusions: Microwave ablation is a highly acceptable minimally invasive method for treating symptoms related to uterine fibroids in patients who desire uterus preservation. Submucosal fibroids showed more favorable treatment results.

Keywords: ablation; microwave; ultrasound; uterine fibroids.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

All authors report no conflict of interest.

References

    1. Hervé F, Katty A, Isabelle Q, Céline S. Impact of uterine fibroids on quality of life: a national cross‐sectional survey. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2018;229:32‐37. - PubMed
    1. Donnez J, Dolmans MM. Uterine fibroid management: from the present to the future. Hum Reprod Update. 2016;22:665‐686. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bukulmez O, Doody KJ. Clinical features of myomas. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2006;33:69‐84. - PubMed
    1. Morris JM, Liang A, Fleckenstein K, Singh B, Segars J. A systematic review of minimally invasive approaches to uterine fibroid treatment for improving quality of life and fibroid‐associated symptoms. Reprod Sci. 2023;30:1495‐1505. - PubMed
    1. Liu H, Zhang J, Han ZY, et al. Effectiveness of ultrasound‐guided percutaneous microwave ablation for symptomatic uterine fibroids: a multicentre study in China. Int J Hyperthermia. 2016;32:876‐880. - PubMed

Publication types

Associated data