The Efficacy of High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Therapy on Adenomyosis

Patients and methods:

All outpatient patients with adenomyosis who will receive High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound therapy will be invited to participate in this study. The size and location of adenomyosis and the uterus should be assessed by ultrasonography. Besides, all enrolled female patients will be asked to complete visual analog scale of the severity of dysmenorrhea and the intensity of menstrual bleeding, overactive bladder symptom score, female bladder function (UDI-6 & IIQ-7), female sexual function index, and bowel incontinence assessment questionnaires. In addition, patients who underwent surgeries for myoma or adenomyosis will be requested to complete the above questionnaires and ultrasound examination at 3 months and 6 months after therapy.

Inclusion criteria

• The patient must be at least 18 years old.
• Adenomyosis: There must be several dark areas on at least one side of the uterine wall; the uterine wall must be thickened; in addition, the thickened uterine wall must have a nonhomogeneous structure; and clinically, there must be dysmenorrhea or menorrhagia.

Exclusion criteria

• The patient currently has an acute lower urinary tract infection or intestinal inflammation.
• The patient has previously undergone bladder or urethral surgery.
• The patient has a history of urinary tract stones or tumors.