OBJECTIVE:To investigate the impact of ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (USgHIFU) on pregnancy in submucous leiomyomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Between October 2015 and October 2021, a retrospective observational study was conducted at the Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, China, for 32 women with submucous leiomyomas who became pregnant after USgHIFU. Pregnancy outcomes, submucous leiomyomas characteristics, and USgHIFU parameters were analyzed. RESULTS:A total of 17 (53.1%) deliveries were successfully achieved, with full-term delivery in 16 (94.1%) patients and preterm delivery in 1 (5.9%). After USgHIFU, the effective volume in the uterus cavity and the volume of submucous leiomyomas shrank in all 32 patients. The median time to achieve pregnancy after USgHIFU was 11.0 months. Before pregnancy, myoma type was downgraded in 13 (40.6%) patients, stable in 10 (31.3%) and upgraded in 9 (28.1%). The vaginal expulsion rate of submucous leiomyomas was 28.1%, with complete expulsion in 3 (9.4%) patients and partial expulsion in 6 (18.8%). After USgHIFU, the size of submucous leiomyomas did not increase in each trimester (all  > 0.05). The high complications rate during pregnancy (7/17, 41.2%) was associated with advanced maternal age, with only one (5.9%) premature rupture of membranes possibly associated with submucous leiomyomas. There were 6 (35.5%) vaginal delivery and 11 (64.7%) cesarean sections. All 17 newborns developed well, with a mean birth weight of 3482 g. CONCLUSIONS:In patients with submucous leiomyomas, pregnancies and full-term deliveries can be successfully achieved following USgHIFU, with few related complications.

High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is an effective and safe non-invasive treatment method, widely used in the treatment of uterine fibroids and adenomyosis in the field of gynecology. The side effects in HIFU is low in incidence and mild. HIFU can significantly alleviate the symptoms of patients, reduce lesion volumes, improve quality of life, and has good cost-effectiveness. HIFU can accurately ablate the uterine fibroids and adenomyosis lesions, without destroying normal myometrium and endometrium, and thus HIFU is a promising alternative to myomectomy in uterine fibroids patients with fertility desire. Several studies have shown that in terms of ovarian endocrine function protection, HIFU treatment is superior to uterine artery embolization, and similar to myomectomy. Existing limited researches show that patients with uterine fibroids have a favorable pregnancy rate and live birth rate, as well as a lower natural abortion rate after HIFU treatment. Pregnancy rate after HIFU treatment for uterine fibroids is not lower than myomectomy, and higher than uterine artery embolization. HIFU may have significant advantages in shortening pregnancy interval compared with myomectomy. However, the proportion of cesarean section delivery after HIFU treatment is relatively high, and gestational uterine rupture after HIFU treatment exist in literature. Higher quality clinical data is needed to confirm the pregnancy outcomes and safety after HIFU treatment in future.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate pregnancy outcomes after transvaginal radiofrequency ablation of leiomyomas. METHODS:We conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of 226 pregnant patients after transvaginal radiofrequency ablation of leiomyomas from January 1, 2017, to February 28, 2022. RESULTS:Patients' mean age was 37.4 years. The preoperative median leiomyoma volume before transvaginal radiofrequency ablation was 52.4 mL, and the median volume reduction at 6 and 12 months was 49.4% and 69.8%, respectively. The median interval time from transvaginal radiofrequency ablation to pregnancy was 9.3 months (interquartile range 5.6-15.1 months). Pregnancy was spontaneous in 78 patients (34.5%) and by assisted reproductive technologies in 148 (65.5%). Miscarriage occurred in 36 patients (15.9%), premature delivery (before 37 weeks of gestation) in 4.1%, and preeclampsia in 4.3%. There was one instance of placenta accreta in a patient with a history of open myomectomy. There were no instances of uterine rupture, placental abruption, or fetal growth restriction. The cesarean delivery rate was 26.4%; the remaining patients had normal spontaneous vaginal deliveries. Patients with a volume of leiomyoma more than 58.6 mL had a longer interval time from transvaginal radiofrequency ablation to pregnancy ( P <.05). An increased miscarriage rate was observed when the interval time to pregnancy was shorter than 5.7 months ( P <.05). CONCLUSION:Pregnancy outcomes after transvaginal radiofrequency ablation of leiomyomas were similar to those of a general population with no instances of uterine rupture, placental abruption, or fetal growth restriction.

AIM:To investigate the ovarian function and pregnancy outcome of patients with uterine fibroids and the influencing factors after high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation treatment. METHODS:A total of 80 patients were recruited. All patients were divided into the pregnancy group (64 cases) and the non-pregnancy group (16 cases). The pregnancy group was categorized into the good pregnancy outcome (GOP) group (46 cases) and adverse pregnancy outcome (APO) group (18 cases). The general data of all study subjects were collected. The changes of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), inhibin B (INHB), and antral follicle count (AFC) before HIFU and 3, 6, and 12 months after HIFU were compared. The related factors affecting pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS:There were no significant differences in AMH, FSH, INHB levels, and AFC at 6 and 12 months after HIFU compared with those before HIFU in pregnancy and non-pregnancy groups (p > 0.05). This study demonstrated that patients with prior history of pregnancy, younger age, lower body mass index (BMI), and smaller fibroids volume had a higher pregnancy rate (p < 0.05). Besides, younger age and smaller fibroids volume were associated with better pregnancy outcomes (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS:HIFU in the treatment of uterine fibroids has little effect on ovarian function and does not increase the risk of infertility and adverse pregnancy. The prior history of pregnancy, age, BMI, and fibroids volume are essential factors affecting the postoperative pregnancy.

To compare the pregnancy outcomes between ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (USgHIFU) ablation and laparoscopic myomectomy (LM). This study included 676 women with symptomatic uterine fibroids who wished to become pregnant underwent USgHIFU or LM at three hospitals in China from 1 May 2009 to 31 May 2018. The related information of pregnancy and delivery were followed up and analyzed using the chi-square test and two-sided Student t-test. The median follow-up duration was 5 (1-8) years; 20 patients (2.9%) were lost to follow-up. 320 patients were treated with UsgHIFU, and 336 were treated with LM. Two hundred nineteen (68.4%) women became pregnant after USgHIFU ablation, and 224 (66.7%) became pregnant after LM. Four hundred forty-three patients had 501 pregnancies (natural pregnancies, 405; fertilisation-embryo transfer pregnancies, 38). Average times to pregnancy were 13.6 ± 9.5 months after USgHIFU and 18.9 ± 7.3 months after LM ( < 0.05). The rate of cesarean delivery was lower in the USgHIFU group (41.6%) than in the LM group (54.9%) ( < 0.05). Incidences of placenta increta, placenta previa, and postpartum hemorrhage were low after USgHIFU compared with after LM. Incidences of preterm birth, fetal distress, fetal growth restriction, and puerperal infection were higher after USgHIFU than after LM. There was a risk of uterine rupture after both procedures. Compared with LM, USgHIFU ablation can significantly shorten the time to pregnancy, although pregnancy rates of the two procedures are similar. Some risks in pregnancy and delivery after HIFU should be evaluated and monitored.

Uterine fibroids (UFs) are benign tumors of female genital tract. Clinically symptomatic UFs may be a cause of serious health problems for many women worldwide. The optimal choice of a treatment method should fit a patient's specific life situation or expectancies (especially fertility) as much as possible. In line with the general current trend in medicine and surgery, great importance is attached to the development of minimally invasive radiological procedures e.g., magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS). Single-center retrospective cohort study conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Pro-Familia Hospital in Rzeszów, Poland. The study group consisted of 276 patients suffering from UFs and treated with MR-HIFU over the period from April 2015 to May 2018. In our group 20 out of 276 patients conceived after the MR-HIFU therapy (7.25%). A general improvement and alleviation of symptoms of the disease after MRgFUS/MR-HIFU procedure were observed in 80% ( = 16) of study participants that conceived. 15% ( = 3) did not report any changes in disease severity. Out of 11 patients who already gave birth - 63.64% ( = 7) underwent cesarean section. MRgFUS/MR-HIFU seems to be an interesting minimally invasive alternative for women with UFs who wish to conceive and deliver after the procedure. This method does not increase the rate of spontaneous abortions or pregnancy complications. In our opinion, it is important to take off an unjustified badge stating that MRgFUS/MR-HIFU method is contraindicated in women with UFs who wish to conceive.

OBJECTIVE:To compare pregnancy outcomes after laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation and myomectomy. METHODS:The ULTRA (Uterine Leiomyoma Treatment With Radiofrequency Ablation) study is an ongoing multicenter prospective cohort study with longitudinal follow-up up to 5 years comparing outcomes of radiofrequency ablation with myomectomy in premenopausal women older than age 21 years with symptomatic uterine leiomyomas. Participants were queried every 6 months after surgery to assess the incidence of pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS:Among 539 women enrolled in ULTRA, a total of 37 participants (mean age at first pregnancy 35.0±4.7 years) conceived 43 times as of March 2023 (22 radiofrequency ablation, 21 myomectomy). The average length of follow-up time after all procedures was 2.5±1.0 years. The baseline miscarriage rate in the study population was 33.3%. In participants who underwent radiofrequency ablation, 9 of 22 pregnancies (40.9%, 95% CI, 20.3-61.5%) ended in first-trimester miscarriage, 11 resulted in live births (50.0%, 95% CI, 29.1-70.9%), one resulted fetal death at 30 weeks of gestation, and one resulted in uterine rupture during miscarriage treatment with misoprostol 10 weeks after radiofrequency ablation. Among the live births in the radiofrequency ablation group, 45.5% were by vaginal delivery. In the myomectomy group, 9 of 21 pregnancies (42.9%, 95% CI, 21.7-64.0%) ended in first-trimester miscarriage and 12 resulted in live births (57.1%, 95% CI, 36.0-78.3%). There were no significant differences in the likelihood of live birth or miscarriage between the study groups. CONCLUSION:Full-term pregnancy and vaginal delivery are achievable after radiofrequency ablation of leiomyomas. However, in this interim analysis, the miscarriage rate in both radiofrequency ablation and myomectomy groups was higher than expected for women in this age group. Long-term data collection in the ongoing ULTRA study aims to further understand pregnancy outcomes after radiofrequency ablation compared with myomectomy. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION:ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT0210094.

OBJECTIVE:To provide a systematic review of pregnancy outcomes after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of uterine myomas. DATA SOURCES:A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase, from database inception to October 2021. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION:Two reviewers conducted independent literature searches. Studies that met the criteria based on title and abstract underwent full-text review. Publications were included if they reported pregnancies and obstetric outcomes after laparoscopic or transcervical RFA of myomas. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS:A total of 405 publications were initially identified and screened, 39 underwent full-text review, and 10 publications were ultimately included. There were 50 pregnancies reported among 923 RFA patients: 40 pregnancies after 559 laparoscopic RFAs and 10 pregnancies after 364 transcervical RFAs. The number of patients from these studies actively trying to conceive after RFA is unknown. Among the RFA patients who conceived, the average age at ablation was 37 years old (range, 27-46 years). Most patients had between 1 and 3 myomas ablated, and myomas size ranged from <2 cm to 12.5 cm. There were 6 spontaneous abortions (12%) and 44 full-term pregnancies (88%), of which 24 were vaginal deliveries and 20 were cesarean deliveries. There were only 2 complications among 44 deliveries: one placenta previa that underwent an uncomplicated cesarean delivery and 1 delayed postpartum hemorrhage with expulsion of a degenerated myoma, with no long-term sequelae. There were no cases of uterine rupture, uterine window, or invasive placentation and no fetal complications. The spontaneous abortion rate was comparable with the general obstetric population. CONCLUSION:Almost all pregnancies after RFA of myomas were full-term deliveries with no maternal or neonatal complications. These findings add to the literature that radiofrequency myoma ablation may offer a safe and effective alternative to existing treatments for women who desire future fertility.

OBJECTIVE:This study aims to assess the safety and effectiveness of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) ablation on pregnancy outcomes among women with uterine fibroids wishing to conceive, focusing specifically on short-term pregnancy outcomes immediately following HIFU treatment. METHODS:A retrospective analysis was conducted on 210 women who underwent HIFU treatment (Group I) at our institution between January 2018 and December 2022 and subsequently conceived. Pregnancy outcomes were compared with two control groups: 510 patients who delivered vaginally (Group II) and 278 who underwent cesarean sections (Group III) during the same period. Statistical analyses included multivariable logistic regression to adjust for confounding factors. The study only considered outcomes related to the immediate pregnancy following HIFU treatment and did not include data on subsequent pregnancies or long-term effects. RESULTS:The natural conception rate post-HIFU was 93.81% (197/210), with a miscarriage rate of 19.05% (40/210). Group I had significantly lower rates of gestational diabetes mellitus (8.24%) and precipitate labor (0%) compared to Group II but higher rates of mild anemia (31.18%) and adherent placenta (10.59%). Compared to Group III, Group I had lower rates of gestational diabetes mellitus (8.24% vs. 20.86%) and moderate anemia (4.71% vs. 16.55%) but a higher incidence of premature rupture of membranes (18.82%). Neonates in Group I had lower birth weights compared to Groups II and III (p < 0.05), with no cases of low birth weight in Group I. Multivariable analysis identified fibroid location as a predictor of preterm birth, while maternal age and mode of delivery influenced the risk of incomplete uterine rupture. CONCLUSION:HIFU ablation is a safe and effective fertility-preserving treatment for women with uterine fibroids, demonstrating favorable short-term pregnancy outcomes. It does not increase perinatal risks, but its impact on pregnancy duration and certain complications suggests that careful patient selection and management are crucial. Future studies should investigate the long-term effects of HIFU on subsequent pregnancies.