Focused Ultrasound Therapy
Focused ultrasound is a noninvasive, therapeutic technology with the potential to improve the quality of life and decrease the cost of care for patients with adenomyosis. This novel technology focuses beams of ultrasound energy precisely and accurately on targets deep in the body without damaging surrounding normal tissue.
How it Works
Where the beams converge, focused ultrasound produces precise ablation (thermal destruction of tissue) enabling adenomyosis to be treated without surgery.
Advantages
The primary options for treatment of adenomyosis include medication and surgery.
For certain patients, focused ultrasound could provide a noninvasive alternative to surgery with less risk of complications – such as surgical wound healing or infection – at a lower cost and with a shorter recovery time. It can reach the desired target without damaging surrounding tissue and is repeatable, if necessary. The treatment has the potential to preserve fertility, because the uterus is not removed. Case studies have reported that women have conceived and had healthy babies after focused ultrasound.
Clinical Trials
A clinical trial is underway in Finland that is assessing focused ultrasound to treat adenomyosis as well as the impact for fertility after the procedure.
A clinical trial is underway in China that is treating adenomyosis in patients with refractory infertility with the goal of enhancing fertility.
The Foundation updates these pages regularly, but with the increasing number of clinical trials, we want to be sure that our audience has the latest information available. Therefore, we also added the website search information for the above trials. If you click here, it will take you to the latest information available from https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/.
See a list of treatment sites >
See a list of clinical trials sites >
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Find a Treatment Site
Search for a treatment center or clinical trial near you.
Regulatory Approval and Reimbursement
Several companies have approval to treat adenomyosis in Europe, Russia, China, Korea, the Middle East, and Taiwan.
To the best of our knowledge, focused ultrasound treatment of adenomyosis is not universally reimbursed by medical insurers in the US.
Notable Papers
Zhao X, Zhang W, Mi M, Wang H, Wang Y, Feng L, Wang H. Comparative study of female sexual function in adenomyosis patients who received the treatment of intensity-focused ultrasound ablation or laparoscopic total hysterectomy. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2026 Jan 19. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.70824. PMID: 41549913
Liang J, Gao L, Sun G, Cui Y, Cheng W. Pregnancy Outcomes of Adenomyosis after Treatment with High-intensity Focused Ultrasound: a Systematic Review and Meta Analysis. Reprod Sci. 2026 Jan 5. doi: 10.1007/s43032-025-02031-1. PMID: 41491769
Zeng L, Wu J, Li X, Yang X. Value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in evaluating blood flow perfusion changes in adenomyosis patients treated with HIFU combined with leuprorelin. Curr Probl Surg. 2025 Dec;73:101898. doi: 10.1016/j.cpsurg.2025.101898. Epub 2025 Sep 21. PMID: 41354513
Yang Z, Lin J, Tan T, Li Y, Chen Y, Yang M, Xiao Z, Chen J. Characteristics of adenomyosis in secondary infertility patients on MRI and factors associated with fertility recovery after HIFU. Int J Hyperthermia. 2025 Dec;42(1):2550633. doi: 10.1080/02656736.2025.2550633. Epub 2025 Aug 26. PMID: 41414952
Huang Y, Yao L, Zhuo B. Individualized strategies and future perspectives of high-intensity focused ultrasound combined with pharmacological treatment for adenomyosis-associated infertility: A narrative review. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2025 Dec;315:114737. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2025.114737. Epub 2025 Sep 23. PMID: 41046847
Wen Q, Ma Y, Chen J, Ou Y, Yao C. In vitro fertilization-assisted pregnancy combined with high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment in patients with endometriosis and adenomyosis with successful pregnancy: a case report. J Med Case Rep. 2025 Nov 5;19(1):566. doi: 10.1186/s13256-025-05640-1. PMID: 41194201
Liu ZY, Liu ZY, Wan XY, Wang Y, Huang XH. Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based interpretable radiomics machine learning model for outcome prediction in adenomyosis treated by high-intensity focussed ultrasound. Clin Radiol. 2025 Nov;90:107058. doi: 10.1016/j.crad.2025.107058. Epub 2025 Aug 23. PMID: 40976116
Zhu X, Shi Q, Xue M. Pregnancy outcomes and influencing factors following high-intensity focused ultrasound treatment for adenomyosis: a single-center retrospective study. Int J Hyperthermia. 2025 Dec;42(1):2567477. doi: 10.1080/02656736.2025.2567477. Epub 2025 Oct 5. PMID: 41047144
Ioannidou A, Louis K, Sioutis D, Panagopoulos P, Theofanakis C, Machairiotis N. Conservative Surgical Management of Adenomyosis: Implications for Infertility and Pregnancy Outcomes-A Perspective Review. J Clin Med. 2025 Oct 1;14(19):6956. doi: 10.3390/jcm14196956. PMID: 41096036
Lin JF, Yang ZY, Tan T, Wang L, Xiao ZB, Chen JY. Effect of pelvic adhesions on reproductive outcomes following high-intensity focused ultrasound in patients with adenomyosis. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2025 Oct;171(1):438-445. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.70194. Epub 2025 May 7. PMID: 40332033
Kang Y, Sang C, Zhao L, Ding K, Zhao S. High-intensity focused ultrasound combined with hysteroscopic insertion of levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system for intrinsic adenomyosis: a retrospective observational study. Int J Hyperthermia. 2025 Dec;42(1):2531028. doi: 10.1080/02656736.2025.2531028. Epub 2025 Jul 10. PMID: 40641223
Dai Y, Luo HJ, Peng Y, Yang W, Shi Q, Jin P. Treatment strategies for adenomyosis before and after introducing USgHIFU in Shenzhen. Int J Hyperthermia. 2025 Dec;42(1):2501244. doi: 10.1080/02656736.2025.2501244. Epub 2025 Jun 16. PMID: 40518987
Lin J, Yang Z, Tan T, Wang L, Xiao Z, Chen J. Effect of Ovarian Endometriotic Cyst on the Efficacy of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Adenomyosis. J Ultrasound Med. 2025 Sep;44(9):1609-1622. doi: 10.1002/jum.16714. Epub 2025 Apr 29. PMID: 40298334
Su Z, Liu S, Wang J, Jin F, Peng Y, Wen J. Retrospective cohort study on the efficacy and safety of high-intensity focused ultrasound in non-invasive treatment of uterine leiomyomas and adenomyosis. Abdom Radiol (NY). 2025 Mar 27. doi: 10.1007/s00261-025-04908-w. PMID: 40146310
Jin Z, Wang L, Wang D, Zheng Q, Qing X, Zhang Y. Innovative application of high-intensity focused ultrasound combined with endometrial thermal balloon ablation in the treatment of adenomyosis: A cohort study. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2025 Apr;307:134-141. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2025.01.049. Epub 2025 Jan 30. PMID: 39914106
Liu Z, Liu Z, Wan X, Wang Y, Huang X. Predicting high-intensity focused ultrasound efficacy in adenomyosis treatment based on magnetic resonance (MR) radiomics and clinical-imaging features. Clin Radiol. 2025 Feb;81:106778. doi: 10.1016/j.crad.2024.106778. Epub 2024 Dec 15. PMID: 39798274
Lin J, Yang Z, Wang L, Xiao Z, Tan T, Chen J. Efficacy of focused ultrasound ablation surgery in patients with adenomyosis and coexisting pelvic adhesions. Int J Hyperthermia. 2025 Dec;42(1):2461456. doi: 10.1080/02656736.2025.2461456. Epub 2025 Feb 13. PMID: 39947638
Zhang B, Shi J, Gu Z, Wu Y, Li X, Zhang C, Yan H, Li Q, Lyu S, Dai Y, Leng J. The role of different LNG-IUS therapies in the management of adenomyosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2025 Feb 13;23(1):23. doi: 10.1186/s12958-025-01349-4. PMID: 39948612
Liu Z, Liu Z, Wan X, Wang Y, Huang X. Prediction of clinical outcome for high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation of adenomyosis based on non-enhanced MRI radiomics. Int J Hyperthermia. 2025 Dec;42(1):2468766. doi: 10.1080/02656736.2025.2468766. Epub 2025 Feb 23. PMID: 39988330
Song Y, Wang L. Combining Medication With High-Intensity-Focused Ultrasound for Adenomyosis: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Ultrasound Med. 2024 Dec 9. doi: 10.1002/jum.16623. PMID: 39648811
Huang Y, Zhou S, Su Y, Cai S. Diffusion-weighted imaging as a non-gadolinium alternative for immediate assessing nonperfused area of adenomyosis after magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) ablation: a potential technique but with slightly overestimate. Quant Imaging Med Surg. 2024 Dec 5;14(12):9522-9532. doi: 10.21037/qims-24-453. Epub 2024 Aug 12. PMID: 39698591
Moawad G, Youssef Y, Fruscalzo A, Khedhri S, Faysal H, Pirtea P, Guani B, Vallée A, Ayoubi JM, Feki A. Effects of pretreatment strategies on fertility outcomes in patients with adenomyosis. Front Reprod Health. 2024 Dec 9;6:1484202. doi: 10.3389/frph.2024.1484202. eCollection 2024. PMID: 39717429
Peng Y, Zhang M, Yan J, Wang R, Xin Y, Zheng X, Zhu L, Fei W, Zhao M. Emerging bioengineering breakthroughs in precision diagnosis and therapy for endometriosis and adenomyosis. J Mater Chem B. 2024 Dec 24. doi: 10.1039/d4tb01755b. PMID: 39717994
Knorren ER, Nijholt IM, Schutte JM, Boomsma MF. Magnetic Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery for Gynecologic Indications. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 2024 Nov;32(4):615-628. doi: 10.1016/j.mric.2024.02.005. Epub 2024 Mar 27. PMID: 39322351
Zhang G, Li L, Sun M, Yu X. Progress in High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation for Fertility Preservation Therapy of Uterine Fibroids and Adenomyosis. Reprod Sci. 2024 Nov 12. doi: 10.1007/s43032-024-01745-y. PMID: 39532767
Knorren ER, Nijholt IM, Schutte JM, Boomsma MF. Magnetic Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery for Gynecologic Indications. Magn Reson Imaging Clin N Am. 2024 Nov;32(4):615-628. doi: 10.1016/j.mric.2024.02.005. Epub 2024 Mar 27. PMID: 39322351
Zhang Q, Liang X, Chen Z. An Updated Review of Thermal Ablation Technology for Uterine Fibroids and Adenomyosis: Focusing on Protecting Fertility. Int J Womens Health. 2024 Sep 23;16:1551-1563. doi: 10.2147/IJWH.S473005. eCollection 2024. PMID: 39346931
Zeccola AM, Allen SE. Alternative treatments of adenomyosis – an update in procedural management and clinical outcomes. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2024 Aug 1;36(4):287-295. doi: 10.1097/GCO.0000000000000972. Epub 2024 May 23. PMID: 38837727
Fan LX, Zhang Y, Yang LL, Ji XL, Wang Y, Huang YF, Shi L, Wen Y. Analysis of related factors influencing postoperative recurrence of adenomyosis treated with HIFU. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2024 Feb 12. doi: 10.1007/s00404-023-07340-x. PMID: 38347252
Chen Y, Lin S, Xie X, Yi J, Liu X, Guo SW. Systematic review and meta-analysis of reproductive outcomes after high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment of adenomyosis. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2024 Feb;92:102433. doi: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2023.102433. Epub 2023 Nov 25. PMID: 38065008
Tang Y, Jiang ZJ, Wen MB, Su B, Huang JR, Wang H, Wu J, Yang MT, Ding N, Hu HQ, Xu F, Li J, Shi Q. Magnetic resonance imaging-based Classifications for Symptom of Adenomyosis. Gynecol Obstet Invest. 2024 Jan 17. doi: 10.1159/000535802. PMID: 38232715
Si M, Lv F, Tang M, Liu Y, Qiu X, Gong C, Hu Y, Liu Y. Non-contrast enhanced MRI for efficiency evaluation of high-intensity focused ultrasound in adenomyosis ablation. Int J Hyperthermia. 2024;41(1):2295813. doi: 10.1080/02656736.2023.2295813. Epub 2024 Jan 17. PMID: 38234000
Click here for additional references from PubMed.
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