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Chapter 1 - Pathophysiology of Uterine Fibroids

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 October 2020

By
Mohamed Otify  and
Hilary O. D. Critchley
Edited by
Mostafa Metwally  and
Tin-Chiu Li
Mostafa Metwally
Affiliation:
University of Sheffield
Tin-Chiu Li
Affiliation:
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
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Summary

Uterine fibroids are a major cause of morbidity in women [1]. Fibroids have variable clinical presentations, depending on size and location. These include pelvic pain (20–40% of patients), bleeding (30% of patients), and anaemia. Fibroids are the leading cause of hysterectomy in the United States [2]. Bleeding from fibroids generally presents as abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) and often prolonged or heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) [3]. Fibroids that bleed are more frequently submucosal or extend into the endometrial cavity. Other problems related to fibroids include problems with implantation [1], preterm labour, recurrent loss of pregnancy, obstruction of labour, and urinary incontinence [4]. Medical costs for patients with fibroids in the United States were estimated as 4.1–9.4 billion US dollars in 2010 [2].

Type
Chapter
Information
Modern Management of Uterine Fibroids , pp. 1 - 13
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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