Fibroids (Leiomyomas)

Fibroids (Leiomyomas) and Endometriosis

Studies:

• Uimari, O., Järvelä, I., & Ryynänen, M. (2011). Do symptomatic endometriosis and uterine fibroids appear together?. Journal of human reproductive sciences, 4(1), 34. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136067/  

“Uterine fibroids were detected in 25.8% (47/182) of patients with endometriosis. Endometriosis was detected in 19.6% (47/240) of patients with uterine fibroids. 5.5% (10/183) women undergoing sterilization had endometriosis and 19.3% (17/183) had uterine fibroids. Both uterine fibroids and endometriosis were, independently of each other, related to subfertility (OR, 95% CI: 3.8, 2.3–6.5; 6.8, 4.0–11.6, respectively).”

• Huang, J. Q., Lathi, R. B., Lemyre, M., Rodriguez, H. E., Nezhat, C. H., & Nezhat, C. (2010). Coexistence of endometriosis in women with symptomatic leiomyomas. Fertility and sterility, 94(2), 720-723. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0015028209006207  

“Of the 131 patients, 113 were diagnosed with endometriosis and fibroids, while 18 were diagnosed with fibroids alone. Patients with fibroids were on average 4.0 years older than those with endometriosis and fibroids (41 vs. 45). Patients with both diagnoses were also more likely to present with pelvic pain and nulliparity than those with fibroids alone. Conclusion(s): An overwhelming majority of patients with symptomatic fibroids were also diagnosed with endometriosis. Overlooking the concomitant diagnosis of endometriosis in these women may lead to suboptimal treatment of the patients. Further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of surgical treatments on symptom resolution.”

• De Oliveira, R., Adami, F., Mafra, F. A., Bianco, B., Vilarino, F. L., & Barbosa, C. P. (2016). Causes of endometriosis and prevalent infertility in patients undergoing laparoscopy without achieving pregnancy. Minerva Ginecol, 68(3), 250-258. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Renato_Oliveira9/publication/279629020_Causes_of_endometriosis_and_prevalent_infertility_in_patients_undergoing_laparoscopy_without_achieving_pregnancy/links/55b620b108aec0e5f436deda/Causes-of-endometriosis-and-prevalent-infertility-in-patients-undergoing-laparoscopy-without-achieving-pregnancy.pdf  

“Aims – Endometriosis is a disease with an unknown pathogenesis that can lead to infertility. Endometrial polyps, fibroids, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) have relatively high frequency and are causes of infertility. We hypothesized a possible relationship between the presence of polyps, fibroids, and PCOS in infertile women with endometriosis who underwent laparoscopy and did not get pregnant, compared to women in the control group. Methods – This study was a cross-sectional study of 1,243 infertile patients (621 with endometriosis and 622 controls). Endometriosis, body mass index (BMI), infertility duration, age, and smoking habits were analyzed in relation to the presence of endometrial polyps, fibroids, and PCOS. Results – Polyps, 1.8 (95% CI 1.3 – 2.5); fibroids, 2.5 (95% CI 1.5 – 4.1); and PCOS, 1.0 (95% CI 0.6 – 1.6 were observed in the endometriosis group. A total of 285 patients (45.9%) were classified presenting endometriosis grades I and II, and 336 patients (54.1%) with grades III and IV. Our findings showed a significant association between the presence of fibroids in 129 women with endometriosis (20.8%), and in 69 (53.9%) with endometriosis grades III and IV (p = 0:04). Among the 31 PCOS patients, 24 (77.4%) showed grades I and II (p <0.001). Conclusions – Endometriosis and infertility are associated with the presence of polyps and fibroids. Furthermore, associations between the presence of fibroids with endometriosis grades III and IV, and presence of PCOS with grades I and II were observed.”