Let's Talk About Uterine Fibroids
- Ronell Klingman
- Jul 18, 2024
- 2 min read
Uterine fibroids, or leiomyomas, are the most common neoplasms of the uterus. Though non-cancerous, these tumors can have a profound impact on a woman's health and quality of life. Here are some key points about fibroids and why awareness is crucial:
Etiology and Incidence:
Fibroids result from a complex interplay of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors.
By age 50, over 80% of Black women and nearly 70% of White women will have experienced fibroids.
Symptoms and Diagnosis:
Fibroids can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, back pain, and bulk symptoms like increased urination and abdominal distention.
Diagnosis is often delayed due to symptom overlap with other gynecologic conditions like endometriosis.
Detection and Classification:
Fibroids are typically detected via ultrasound or MRI, but these methods do not reveal driver mutations or differentiate between fibroids and other growths like leiomyosarcoma.
Classification based on location (subserosal, intramural, submucosal, intracavity) is standard, but more nuanced systems incorporating tissue stiffness and symptom severity are needed.
Treatment Options:
Medical Therapies: Hormonal treatments can manage symptoms but often impact fertility and do not prevent recurrence.
Surgical Interventions: Myomectomy and hysterectomy are common, but they come with significant risks and recovery times. Hysterectomy is the only definitive cure but ends fertility.
Emerging Therapies: Non-invasive options like magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRg-FUS) show promise, but more research and comparative data are needed.
Fertility Concerns:
Current treatments often negatively affect fertility. There is a pressing need for fertility-friendly therapies.
Exploring non-hormonal therapies, such as those targeting the uterine microbiome or inflammatory molecules, may offer new avenues for treatment.
The Path Forward:
Increased awareness and education about fibroids are crucial, especially given the higher incidence in women of color.
More research is needed to understand the disease better and develop less invasive, cost-effective treatments that preserve fertility.
Uterine fibroids can severely impact health and quality of life. While research has advanced in identifying risk factors and genetic mutations, significant knowledge gaps remain, especially regarding symptomatic fibroids and their higher incidence in women of color. Increasing awareness, reducing bias, and enhancing provider and patient education are crucial to empowering patients in managing this condition.
Read more:
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacr.2022.09.019
DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2021.0280
#FibroidAwarenessMonth #WomensHealth #Fibroids #UterineHealth #MedicalResearch #FertilityPreservation
