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JABSOM OB\u2013GYN Chair Ivica Zalud and Kimberly Kho<\/p>\nReading time: 2 minutesJABSOM OB\u2013GYN Chair Ivica Zalud and Kimberly Kho<\/p>\n
A University of Hawai\u02bbi at M\u0101noa physician is working to change how a common but often overlooked gynecologic condition is diagnosed and treated.<\/p>\n
Kimberly Kho, who holds the nation\u2019s first professorship in advanced gynecological surgery<\/a> in the John A. Burns School of Medicine<\/a> (JABSOM), recently authored a clinical expert series review on adenomyosis in Obstetrics & Gynecology<\/a>. The publication places Kho among a select group of internationally recognized experts in women\u2019s health.<\/p>\n \u201cThese articles are meant to synthesize the existing medical literature and turn it into meaningful clinical guidance,\u201d Kho said. \u201cThe goal is that a physician could read it, deepen their understanding of the disease, and immediately apply what they learned in their practice on Monday morning.\u201d<\/p>\n Adenomyosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows into the uterine muscle, causing severe menstrual bleeding, chronic pelvic pain and fertility challenges. Despite affecting roughly one in three women, the condition remains underdiagnosed and under-researched.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s astonishing how common it is,\u201d Kho said. \u201cBut if you look at the research funding for adenomyosis, which then correlates to our scientific understanding of the disease and specific therapies, it\u2019s just a drop in the proverbial bucket compared to how much and how many this disease impacts.\u201d<\/p>\n Advances in diagnosis, care<\/p>\n Kho\u2019s review provides a practical roadmap for OB\u2013GYN physicians, covering disease mechanisms, diagnostic advances and modern treatment options. A major shift highlighted is the move toward noninvasive diagnosis using imaging tools such as ultrasound and MRI, rather than relying on hysterectomy for confirmation.<\/p>\n \u201cOur paradigm for diagnosing has really evolved because our technologies have evolved. This allows us to name the condition and start treating it, rather than the alternative, which was often to write off the symptoms,\u201d Kho said.<\/p>\n The review also challenges the idea that hysterectomy is the only effective treatment.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are many excellent uterine-preserving options,\u201d Kho said. \u201cMedical, interventional and surgical treatments can manage symptoms while preserving uterine function and future fertility.\u201d<\/p>\n Kho hopes the publication will help establish clearer guidance for physicians worldwide while expanding access to advanced gynecologic care in Hawai\u02bbi.<\/p>\n