Clinical presentation and prevalence of uterine fibroids: a 3-year study in 3-decade rural South Indian women

Abstract

Background: Uterine fibroids are benign tumors arising from smooth muscle cells of myometrium. This study was conducted in rural women belonging to poor socio-economic class and primary school dropouts to find out clinical presentation, prevalence of uterine fibroids, their knowledge about health services and to develop modalities to improve awareness and early reporting to prevent morbidity and improve quality of life.Methods: Women ranging from 26-55 years age attending Gynecology OPD of SSSMCRI for abdominopelvic mass, pain, menstrual abnormalities over a period of 3 years were registered for the study. Socio-demographic profile, detailed menstrual history, reason for attending hospital and previous treatment taken prior to the hospital visit were recorded. Women with pregnancy with fibroids and fibroids detected by ultra-sonogram less than 12 weeks were excluded from the study. Clinical, local and ultra-sonographic examination was done for the morphology of the fibroids. Comparison was done with histological picture for accuracy in clinical and sonographic diagnosis.Results: 362 women who presented with uterine fibroids, menorrhagia or with abdomino pelvic mass were registered for this study. Of 136 patients who had uterine fibroids 66% had menorrhagia with severe anemia, 23% needed blood transfusion, 17 were nulliparous women. Menorrhagia was the commonest menstrual pattern seen in 58.8% women. Asymptomatic fibroids with huge abdomino pelvic mass was seen in 46 women (33%). The size was 12-28 weeks. The mean age was 46 years. Abdominal hysterectomy was done in 88 women, and 3 in-situ hysterectomies (91 cases) (67%), polypectomy in 16 and myomectomy in 22 nulliparous women. Laparotomy for torsion sub-serous fibroids was done in 7.Conclusions: Further research is needed to find out biological factors causing fibroids including diet, stress, environmental and racial influences. Routine screening, early detection, increase awareness by early reporting to the hospital will reduces morbidity and improves quality of life socioeconomically.

Predictors and symptomatic burden of uterine fibroids among women in South-Eastern India: a cross-sectional survey analysis

“…present study result is matching to the result published in previous studies reported more menstrual symptoms like menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, metrorrhagia, polymenorrhea, and leucorrhoea. 15,28,29 Present study reveals participants also reported about bowel and bladder symptoms, among them 24% experience frequent urination during the daytime whereas 15% experience frequent night-time urination, 44% experienced tightness of pelvic area and also 8% women complained of pain during sexual intercourse in case of fibroids present near the vagina or cervix. Study finding was supported with previous studies which shows that women mostly experienced lower back pain, bladder or bowel symptoms and complained of pain during sexual intercourse.…”

“…[11][12][13][14] The global prevalence rate is more close to Indian scenario 24% among 46-50 years age group in rural South Indian women which supports present study prevalence rate of 20% among women of reproductive age. 15 This prevalence rate of UF was more among young age group <30 years, the peak of detected fibroids was at the age of 39, after which the prevalence of fibroids was decreasing until the age of 45 years. Advanced age above 45 was not studied in present study.…”

Vitamin D3 Level in Women with Uterine Fibroid: An Observational Study in Eastern Indian Population

“…Dietary deficiency appears to be the primary aetiology [13]. Moreover, the incidence of uterine fibroid in reproductive age group is around 37% as reported by a study in South India [21]. This number in all probabilities might be higher as many more are undetected.…”

A study on association of preoperative anaemia and obesity with causes and postoperative outcome in women undergoing hysterectomy for abnormal uterine bleeding

“…9 In another study done on clinical presentation and prevalence of uterine fibroids in rural South India, 68% of women with fibroids had anaemia. 10 Leiomyoma were identified as the cause of bleeding in 47.9% of subjects, in study done in Mayo clinic. In women diagnosed with submucosal fibroid by hysteroscopy 38% had anaemia and 28% of women diagnosed as fibroid by ultrasound irrespective of location had anaemia.…”