Early Normal Menstrual Cycle Pattern and the Development of Uterine Leiomyomas

Abstract

It is unclear if women who develop uterine leiomyomas have had menstrual regularity or irregularity in their reproductive life. This case-control study examines the recalled menstrual cycle patterns throughout the reproductive life among women requiring hysterectomy for myomas. One hundred twenty-two women with myomas and 244 age-matched healthy controls without myomas were enrolled in Japan. The incidence of normal menstrual cycle pattern in their teens among patients with myoma was significantly higher than that among healthy controls (p < 0.01). The subset results for parous women were the same as those for all subjects. The size of the uterus in myoma patients with teenage menstrual regularity was not larger than in those with teenage menstrual irregularity. Women who developed myomas later in life tended to have early normal menstrual cycle pattern. Early menstrual regularity may enhance leiomyoma growth in early reproductive life.

Does life-course socioeconomic position influence racial inequalities in the occurrence of uterine leiomyoma? Evidence from the Pro-Saude Study

“…Thus, variables such as education have been analyzed 34,35,36,37,38 as potential confounders, but have not been the central focus of analysis. Still, some studies observed no association 8,39,40,41 between education and uterine leiomyomas, while one found a direct association 42 . Two studies have addressed the association between tumors and low levels of parental education, food insecurity, and low income in childhood, and found direct associations only among whites 43,44 .…”

Etiology and pathogenesis of uterine leiomyomas: a review.

“…Recently, a significant inverse association between risk of fibroids and age at menarche was reported; that is, compared with women who were 12 years of age at menarche, those who were ≤ 10 years of age at menarche were at increased risk [relative risk (RR) 1.24], whereas women who were age ≥ 16 years of age at menarche were at lower risk (RR 0.68) (Marshall et al 1998a). Sato et al (2000b) found that women with uterine leiomyomas more often exhibited an early normal menstrual cycle pattern, and concluded that early menstrual regularity may enhance leiomyoma growth in early reproductive life. The early onset of menstrual cycles may increase the number of cell divisions that the myometrium undergoes during the reproductive years, resulting in an increased chance of mutation in genes controlling myometrial proliferation (Marshall et al 1998a).…”

“…Sato et al (Sato et al 2000b) in Japan stated that "uterine leiomyomas are the most common pelvic tumors" but provided no data of the actual prevalence among their patients. Others (Ezem and Otubu 1981) have cited a 68% incidence of uterine fibromyomata among their hysterectomy cases in Nigeria.…”

Abuse in Childhood and Risk of Uterine Leiomyoma

“…7, 8 Ovarian hormone regulation is thought to play a central role. 9 The incidence and clinical progression of fibroids is associated with younger age at menarche, 10, 11 infertility, 10 and lower parity. 12 Age at menarche has been associated with elevated weight gain in early life.…”