There are several advantages to MRgFUS over other recommended treatments.

Primarily, the MRgFUS treatment is a much less invasive procedure than the alternative treatments for fibroids.  Most patients have no problems following the procedure and are able to return to work within one to two days. 

After MRgFUS, fibroid tissue does not leave the body via the vagina as in uterine artery embolisation, and this is why women do not experience the troublesome discharge associated with embolisation after treatment.  There are no known effects of the treated fibroids remaining in the body as uterine fibroids are known to be benign.

The incidence of post-treatment complications after MRgFUS is very low.  We have not experienced the infective morbidity associated with other treatments such as uterine artery embolisation and have never carried out an emergency hysterectomy following the procedure.

Importantly also, MRgFUS is considered fertility-sparing, which means that it is not known to adversely impair fertility. This is not the case with the alternatives. Uterine Artery Embolisation, for example, is associated with a risk of hysterectomy (1%), premature menopause (2-7%), and increased miscarriage rate (66%) and caesarean rate (68%).

MRgFUS may cause temporary lower abdominal discomfort, and occasionally redness of the skin, firmness in the area of treatment, minor pain, skin burns, bleeding and/or bruising.  The effects would be visible immediately after treatment and in most cases it is expected that these will resolve within 10 days.

A few patients have complained of irregular menstrual bleeding for a few weeks after the procedure and in all cases, this has settled without treatment.  Some women experience feelings of bruising or are sore for a few days after the treatment.  On rare occasions, this lasts for two to three weeks.

There have been no cases of infection following the procedure, expect minor urinary tract infections caused by catheterisation.  These are easily treated with antibiotics.