Symptoms of uterine myomas: data of an epidemiological study in Germany

Dietary intake is associated with the prevalence of uterine leiomyoma in Korean women: A retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Uterine leiomyoma (UL), the most prevalent benign gynecologic tumor among reproductive-aged women, lacks sufficient research on the potential association between dietary intake and its occurrence in Korean women. Addressing this research gap, this study aims to evaluate the potential link between dietary intake and the prevalence of UL in Korean women.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, a cohort of 672 women, aged 23 to 73, were enrolled, with 383 (57%) being premenopausal. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and UL presence was determined through ultrasonography. The analysis focused exclusively on items within ten categories, including vegetables/fruit, vegetables, fruits, red meat, processed meat, poultry, fish, dairy product, milk, and alcohol. Multiple logistic regression models were employed to explore the relationship between dietary intake and the prevalence of UL, calculating odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) while adjusting for confounding factors.

RESULTS

Within the total cohort, 220 (32.7%) women were diagnosed with UL. High intakes of fish and poultry showed an association with higher UL prevalence. Odds ratios (95% CIs) for the upper quartiles compared to the lower quartiles were 1.68 (1.01-2.81; p trend = 0.05) for fish intake and 1.87 (1.11-3.17; p trend = 0.06) for poultry intake. Conversely, an inverse relationship emerged between dairy product intake and UL prevalence, with an odds ratio of 0.58 (95% CI 0.35-0.96; p trend = 0.05). Stratifying the analysis by menopausal status revealed a parallel pattern, with heightened UL prevalence with fish intake and reduced prevalence with dairy product intake. However, the link between poultry intake and UL prevalence was primarily observed among postmenopausal women. Among premenopausal women, elevated vegetable intake was linked to a decreased UL prevalence (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21-0.97 for top vs. bottom quartiles; p trend = 0.01).

CONCLUSION

We found that high consumption of fish and poultry, coupled with low intake of dairy products, correlated with an elevated prevalence of UL. Furthermore, vegetable intake exhibited an inverse relationship with UL prevalence, particularly among premenopausal women.

Long-term re-intervention after USgHIFU and prediction of NPVR in different ages of patients with uterine fibroids

OBJECTIVE

Long-term re-intervention after ultrasound-guided high intensity focused ultrasound (USgHIFU) ablation was reported, and the prediction of non-perfusion volume ratio (NPVR) in differently aged patients with uterine fibroids (UFs) was explored.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with UFs who underwent USgHIFU ablation from January 2012 to December 2019 were enrolled and divided into < 40-year-old and ≥ 40-year-old groups. Cox regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of re-intervention rate, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to analyze the correlation between NPVR and re-intervention rate.

RESULTS

A total of 2141 patients were enrolled, and 1558 patients were successfully followed up. The 10-year cumulative re-intervention rate was 21.9%, and the < 40-year-old group had a significantly higher rate than the ≥ 40-year-old group (30.8% vs. 19.1%, p < 0.001). NPVR was an independent risk factor in both two groups. When the NPVR reached 80.5% in the < 40-year-old group and 75.5% in the ≥ 40-year-old group, the risk of long-term re-intervention was satisfactory.

CONCLUSION

The long-term outcome of USgHIFU is promising. The re-intervention rate is related to NPVR in differently aged patients. Young patients need a high NPVR to reduce re-intervention risk.

Population-based study of the reproductive risk factors for transvaginal ultrasound diagnosed uterine fibroids in Nigerian women

There has been no previous systematic, epidemiological study of the reproductive risk factors for uterine fibroids (UF) in African populations despite African women having the highest burden of UF in the world. Improved knowledge of the associations between UF and reproductive factors would contribute to better understanding of the etiology of UF and may suggest novel opportunities for prevention and therapeutic interventions. We used nurse administered questionnaires to survey the demographic and reproductive risk factors of UF among 484 women who are members of the African Collaborative Center for Microbiome and Genomics Research (ACCME) Study Cohort in central Nigeria, and who had transvaginal ultrasound diagnosis (TVUS). We used logistic regression models to the evaluate associations between reproductive risk factors and UF, adjusted for significant covariates. In our multivariable logistic regression models, we found inverse associations with number of children (OR = 0.83, 95%CI = 0.74-0.93, p-value = 0.002), parity (OR = 0.41, 95%CI = 0.24-0.73, p-value = 0.002), history of any type of abortion (OR = 0.53, 95%CI = 0.35-0.82, p-value = 0.004), duration of use of Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA) (p-value for trend = 0.02), menopausal status (OR = 0.48, 95%CI = 0.27-0.84, p-value = 0.01), and a non-linear positive association with age (OR = 1.04, 95%CI = 1.01-1.07, p-value = 0.003). Other reproductive risk factors that have been reported in other populations (age at menarche and menopause, and oral contraceptives) were not associated with UF in this study. Our study confirms some of the reproductive risk factors for UF that have been found in other populations and shows that some of them are stronger in the Nigerian population. The associations we found with DMPA suggest opportunities for further research to understand the mechanisms of action of progesterone and its analogues in the etiology of UF, their potential use for prevention and treatment of UF.

Validation of self-report of uterine fibroid diagnosis using a transvaginal ultrasound scan

Self-report of uterine fibroids (UF) has been used for epidemiologic research in different environments. Given the dearth of studies on the epidemiology of UF in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), it is valuable to evaluate its performance as a potential tool for much needed research on this common neoplasm in SSA women. We conducted a cross-sectional study of self-report of UF compared with transvaginal ultrasound diagnosis (TVUS) among 486 women who are members of the African Collaborative Center for Microbiome and Genomics Research (ACCME) Study Cohort in central Nigeria. We used log-binomial regression models to compute the classification, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values of self-report compared to TVUS, adjusted for significant covariates. The prevalence of UF on TVUS was 45.1% (219/486) compared to 5.4% (26/486) based on self-report of abdominal ultrasound scan and 7.2% (35/486) based on report of healthcare practitioner's diagnosis. Self-report correctly classified 39.5% of the women compared to TVUS in multivariable adjusted models. The multivariable adjusted sensitivity of self-report of healthcare worker diagnosis was 38.8%, specificity was 74.5%, positive predictive value (PPV) was 55.6%, and negative predictive value (NPV) was 59.8%. For self-reported abdominal ultrasound diagnosis, the multivariable adjusted sensitivity was 40.6%, specificity was 75.3%, PPV was 57.4%, and NPV was 60.6%. Self-report significantly underestimates the prevalence of UF and is not accurate enough for epidemiological research on UF. Future studies of UF should use population-based designs and more accurate diagnostic tools such as TVUS.

Population-based study of the reproductive risk factors for Transvaginal Ultrasound diagnosed Uterine Fibroids in Nigerian women

Objective

There has been no previous systematic, epidemiological study of the reproductive risk factors for uterine fibroids (UF) in African populations despite African women having the highest burden of UF in the world. Improved knowledge of the associations between UF and reproductive factors would contribute to better understanding of the etiology of UF and may suggest novel opportunities for prevention and therapeutic interventions.

Design

We used nurse administered questionnaires to survey the demographic and reproductive risk factors of UF among 484 women who are members of the African Collaborative Center for Microbiome and Genomics Research (ACCME) Study Cohort in central Nigeria, and who had transvaginal ultrasound diagnosis (TVUS). We used logistic regression models to the evaluate associations between reproductive risk factors and UF, adjusted for significant covariates.

Results

In our multivariable logistic regression models, we found inverse associations with number of children (OR = 0.83, 95%CI = 0.74-0.93, p-value = 0.002), parity (OR = 0.41, 95%CI = 0.24-0.73, p-value = 0.02), history of any type of abortion (OR = 0.53, 95%CI = 0.35-0.82, p-value = 0.004), duration of use of Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA) (p-value for trend = 0.02), menopausal status (OR = 0.48, 95%CI = 0.27-0.84, p-value = 0.01), and a non-linear positive association with age (OR = 1.04, 95%CI = 1.01-1.07, p-value = 0.003). Other reproductive risk factors that have been reported in other populations (age at menarche and menopause, and oral contraceptives) were not associated with UF in this study.

Conclusion

Our study confirms the reproductive risk factors for UF that have been found in other populations and shows that some of them are stronger in the Nigerian population. The associations we found with DMPA suggest opportunities for further research to understand the mechanisms of action of progesterone and its analogues in the etiology of UF, their potential use for prevention and treatment of UF.

Delayed expulsion of a large fibroid after transcervical radiofrequency ablation: A case report

Fibroids are the most common type of benign uterine tumor, which occur up to 68.6% of women. Hypermenorrhea is the most common symptom with a general prevalence of 40%-54%, followed by dysmenorrhea and low abdominal pain. Transcervical fibroids ablation was developed as a minimally invasive, incisionless treatment of fibroids in a short time. This method is safe and effective with an excellent record of safety. We present the case of a 40-year-old woman, who attended in our fibroid excellence center. She reported severe hypermenorrhea and dysmenorrhea. Family planning was definitely completed. Using vaginal ultrasonography a FIGO 2-5 fibroid of 5 cm in diameter was detected. Different treatment options were discussed: medical treatment, laparoscopic fibroidectomy, hysterectomy, and transcervical radiofrequency ablation with Sonata System. Because of advantages of transcervical radiofrequency ablation (minimal invasive treatment without incision, effectivity of method, short surgical time) the patient decided on this method. Three months later, the patient came to the first follow up. She reported a significant improvement of hypermenorrhea. A vaginal ultrasonography was carried out. The fibroid changed its position from FIGO 2-5 to FIGO 2. The patient was very satisfied with the result. After 2 months, she attended in our department again because of severe clear vaginal discharge. She had no bleeding, no pain as well as no fever. We examined her immediately. A fibroid expulsion was detected. The fibroid was removed vaginally. There was no severe bleeding during the operation and the fibroid could be removed completely. The surgery time was 25 minutes.

Development of the Bleeding and Pelvic Discomfort Scale for Use in Women With Heavy Menstrual Bleeding Associated With Uterine Fibroids

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to define a cardinal symptom burden measure based on items from the Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Quality of Life questionnaire for use as a clinical trial endpoint.

METHODS

Exploratory factor analysis was computed to assess the Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Quality of Life symptom severity scale factor structure, using phase 2 data. Pooled blinded data from phase 3 studies were used for the confirmatory factor analysis and the psychometric evaluation of the new measure. Exit interviews in 30 patients from phase 3 studies provided additional qualitative evidence. A meaningful change threshold was determined using anchor-based analyses supported by patient feedback in the exit interviews.

RESULTS

Three factors emerged from the exploratory factor analysis. Factor 1, called the bleeding and pelvic discomfort (BPD) scale, consists of cardinal symptoms, measuring menstrual distress owing to heavy bleeding, passing blood clots, and feeling tightness or pressure in pelvic area. Patients generally understood the items in the scale and the recall period as intended. The BPD scale had good item performance and internal consistency reliability, strong item-to-total correlations, good item discrimination, known-groups validity, and ability to detect change. A 20-point change on the BPD scale was determined as the clinically meaningful change threshold.

CONCLUSIONS

The BPD scale assesses symptom burden owing to bleeding, passing blood clots, and pelvic pressure. The subscale is based on a subset of items selected to measure the cardinal symptoms of uterine fibroids in a clinical trial setting. The responder threshold evaluates whether patients experience a meaningful treatment benefit over the on-treatment period.

Characteristics of Submucous Myomas and the Risk of Anemia

Background and Objectives: Uterine fibroids still represent the most common indication for hysterectomy for benign pathologies. In the United States, more than 479,000 hysterectomies are performed annually, 46.6% for myomas and 47.7% in women aged from 18 to 44 years. By applying appropriateness criteria to this procedure, it has been estimated that overuse ranges from 16 to 70%. One of the main reasons that induce patients and gynecologists to consider hysterectomy is represented by severe anemia. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of 202 patients with uterine fibroids diagnosed by transvaginal ultrasound who underwent a hysteroscopic procedure. Myoma grade, size, location, and number were assessed by transvaginal scan and office hysteroscopy and correlated to the pre-treatment hemoglobin level. Results: Univariate analysis showed that anemia does not have a statistically significant association with myoma number and with age considered as a numerical predictor. In the patients with myoma type 0, there is a possibility of 81% having anemia regardless of menorrhagia. On the contrary, in patients with myoma type 1 or type 2, the possibility of having anemia varies according to the presence or absence of menorrhagia. If there is menorrhagia, the risk of moderate anemia is only present for myomas >60 mm. Conclusions: The results of this study may contribute to defining objective criteria for the management of submucous myomas and anemia. Our data suggest that submucosal myomas type 0 >10 mm should always be treated, putting patients at risk for anemia. Myomas type 2 and 3 should be treated for the risk of anemia in the presence of menorrhagia episodes or if > of 60 mm. Adequate management of anemia and myomas could reduce the rate of unnecessary hysterectomies.

Epidemiology of uterine fibroid in black African women: a systematic scoping review

OBJECTIVE

Studies, mainly from high-income countries, suggest that there are ethnic and racial variations in prevalence of uterine fibroids (UF). However, there have been few studies of the epidemiology of UF in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). We reviewed published articles on the epidemiology of UF in SSA.

DESIGN

This was a scoping review of literature.

SETTINGS

We searched three databases (PubMed, African Wide Information (EBSCO) and African Journals OnLine (AJOL)). The search for eligible articles was conducted between December 2019 and January 2021.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

To describe the reported prevalence/incidence of, and risk factors for UF in SSA.

RESULTS

Of the 1052 articles retrieved, 9 met the inclusion criteria for review. The articles were from Nigeria (4/9), Ghana (2/9), Cameroon (1/9), Kenya (1/9) and South Africa (1/9). Two studies from pathology departments and three studies from radiology departments reported prevalence of UF. We did not find any study on the incidence or genomics of UF in SSA. Of the three studies that reported on the risk factors of UF, only one case-control study that was conducted using retrospective data of attendees at a gynaecological clinic conducted multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSION

There is lack of robust epidemiological studies of the prevalence, incidence and risk factors of UF in SSA. There is urgent need to study epidemiological and genomics risk factors of UF in SSA because UF is the most common gynaecological neoplasm in this population where it is associated with significant morbidity and occasional, usually perioperative, mortality.

Relugolix Combination Therapy for Uterine Leiomyoma-Associated Pain in the LIBERTY Randomized Trials

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of once-daily relugolix combination therapy (relugolix-CT: relugolix 40 mg, estradiol 1 mg, and norethindrone acetate 0.5 mg) compared with placebo on moderate-to-severe pain in women with uterine leiomyomas and heavy menstrual bleeding.

METHODS

Two replicate, multinational, double-blind, 24-week, randomized, phase 3 studies (LIBERTY 1 and 2) were conducted in premenopausal women with uterine leiomyoma-associated heavy menstrual bleeding (80 mL or greater per cycle for two cycles or 160 mL or greater during one cycle). A predefined secondary objective was to determine the effect of relugolix-CT on moderate-to-severe uterine leiomyoma-associated pain in the pain subpopulation (women with maximum pain scores of 4 or higher on the 0-10 numerical rating scale at baseline, with pain score reporting compliance of 80% (ie, 28 days or more over the last 35 days of treatment). This key secondary endpoint was defined as the proportion of women achieving minimal-to-no uterine leiomyoma-associated pain (maximum numerical rating scale score 1 or lower) at week 24; menstrual and nonmenstrual pain were evaluated in prespecified secondary analyses. Treatment comparisons were performed in the pooled LIBERTY 1 and 2 pain subpopulation using the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test stratified by baseline menstrual blood loss volume.

RESULTS

Across both trials, 509 women were randomized to relugolix-CT or placebo (April 2017-December 2018). Of these, 277 (54.4%) met pain subpopulation requirements. With relugolix-CT, 45.2% (95% CI 36.4-54.3) of women achieved minimal-to-no pain compared with 13.9% (95% CI 8.8-20.5) with placebo (nominal P<.001). The proportions of women with minimal-to-no pain during menstrual days and during nonmenstrual days were significantly higher with relugolix-CT (65.0% [95% CI 55.6-73.5] and 44.6% [95% CI 32.3-57.5], respectively) compared with placebo (19.3% [95% CI 13.2-26.7], nominal P<.001, and 21.6% [95% CI 12.9-32.7], nominal P=.004, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Over 24 weeks, relugolix-CT significantly reduced moderate-to-severe uterine leiomyoma-associated pain with a more pronounced effect on menstrual pain. These data support that relugolix-CT had clinically meaningful effects on women's experience of uterine leiomyoma-associated pain.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: LIBERTY 1, NCT03049735; LIBERTY 2, NCT03103087.

FUNDING SOURCE

Myovant Sciences GmbH.

Uterine Fibroids (Leiomyomata) and Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Uterine Fibroids, or leiomyomata, affect millions of women world-wide, with a high incidence of 75% within women of reproductive age. In ~30% of patients, uterine fibroids cause menorrhagia, or heavy menstrual bleeding, and more than half of the patients experience symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, or infertility. Treatment is symptomatic with limited options including hysterectomy as the most radical solution. The genetic foundations of uterine fibroid growth have been traced to somatic driver mutations (MED12, HMGA2, FH^−/−, and COL4A5-A6). These also lead to downstream expression of angiogenic factors including IGF-1 and IGF-2, as opposed to the VEGF-driven mechanism found in the angiogenesis of hypoxic tumors. The resulting vasculature supplying the fibroid with nutrients and oxygen is highly irregular. Of particular interest is the formation of a pseudocapsule around intramural fibroids, a unique structure within tumor angiogenesis. These aberrations in vascular architecture and network could explain the heavy menstrual bleeding observed. However, other theories have been proposed such as venous trunks, or venous lakes caused by the blocking of normal blood flow by uterine fibroids, or the increased local action of vasoactive growth factors. Here, we review and discuss the evidence for the various hypotheses proposed.

Transcervical Radiofrequency Ablation of Uterine Fibroids Global Registry (SAGE): Study Protocol and Preliminary Results

Background

Transcervical fibroid ablation (TFA) is a minimally invasive, effective treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids that utilizes intrauterine ultrasound for imaging and radiofrequency energy for ablation. Outcomes reported with TFA have been positive, with significant reductions in fibroid volume, improvements in symptom severity and health-related quality of life, and low complication and surgical reintervention rates. The SAGE registry characterizes the long-term (5-year) outcomes of TFA when used to treat symptomatic uterine fibroids in real-world usage.

Methods/Design

SAGE is an ongoing postmarket global registry involving up to 50 sites and up to 500 women who select TFA with the Sonata system for treatment of symptomatic uterine fibroids. Patients are followed for 5 years. Main outcomes include symptom severity score and health-related quality of life subscales of the UFS-QoL, general health status on the EQ-5D, perceived treatment benefit, treatment satisfaction, work and activity patterns, overall patient treatment outcome, adverse events, pregnancy incidence and outcomes, and surgical reinterventions for heavy menstrual bleeding.

Discussion

The SAGE registry represents the largest known study of TFA for uterine fibroids and will generate up to 2500 patient-years of outcome data. Preliminary results from the first 160 treated women suggest broad applicability of TFA to a wide range of fibroid types and sizes and an excellent safety profile, with a device-related adverse event rate of 0.6% and a serious procedure-related adverse event rate of 0.6%. Of the 241 fibroids treated, 10% were submucous, 52% transmural, 28% intramural, and 10% subserous. Ablated fibroid diameters ranged from <1 cm to >10 cm, with 27% of fibroids having maximum diameters >5 cm. The real-world experience from SAGE will strengthen the existing evidence on the durability of TFA in providing meaningful relief from uterine fibroid symptoms and will have important clinical and economic implications for patients, physicians, and healthcare payers.

Trial Registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03118037. Registered on 18 April 2017.

Treatment of Uterine Fibroid Symptoms with Relugolix Combination Therapy

BACKGROUND

Uterine fibroids are a common cause of heavy menstrual bleeding and pain. Treatment with the combination of relugolix (an oral gonadotropin-releasing hormone-receptor antagonist), estradiol, and norethindrone acetate, administered once daily, may have efficacy in women with uterine fibroids and heavy bleeding while avoiding hypoestrogenic effects.

METHODS

We conducted two replicate international, double-blind, 24-week, phase 3 trials involving women with fibroid-associated heavy menstrual bleeding. Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive once-daily placebo, relugolix combination therapy (40 mg of relugolix, 1 mg of estradiol, and 0.5 mg of norethindrone acetate), or delayed relugolix combination therapy (40 mg of relugolix monotherapy, followed by relugolix combination therapy, each for 12 weeks). The primary efficacy end point in each trial was the percentage of participants with a response (volume of menstrual blood loss <80 ml and a ≥50% reduction in volume from baseline) in the relugolix combination therapy group, as compared with the placebo group. Key secondary end points were amenorrhea, volume of menstrual blood loss, distress from bleeding and pelvic discomfort, anemia, pain, fibroid volume, and uterine volume. Safety and bone mineral density were assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 388 women in trial L1 and 382 in trial L2 underwent randomization. A total of 73% of the participants in the relugolix combination therapy group in trial L1 and 71% of those in trial L2 had a response (primary end point), as compared with 19% and 15%, respectively, of those in the placebo groups (P<0.001 for both comparisons). Both relugolix combination therapy groups had significant improvements, as compared with the placebo groups, in six of seven key secondary end points, including measures of menstrual blood loss (including amenorrhea), pain, distress from bleeding and pelvic discomfort, anemia, and uterine volume, but not fibroid volume. The incidence of adverse events was similar with relugolix combination therapy and placebo. Bone mineral density was similar with relugolix combination therapy and placebo but decreased with relugolix monotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

Once-daily relugolix combination therapy resulted in a significant reduction in menstrual bleeding, as compared with placebo, and preserved bone mineral density in women with uterine fibroids. (Funded by Myovant Sciences; LIBERTY 1 [L1] and LIBERTY 2 [L2] ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT03049735 and NCT03103087, respectively.).

Office hysteroscopic myomectomy without myoma extraction: A multicenter prospective study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility and safety of leaving the submucous myoma (SM) in the uterine cavity after office hysteroscopic enucleation.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective multicenter study including patients who had a single SM diagnosed by transvaginal ultrasounds with surgical indication. Office hysteroscopic enucleation of the SM was performed using a 5 mm continuous flow office hysteroscope with a 2.9 mm rod lens optical system and a 5 Fr operative channel. After the SM was released preserving the pseudo capsule using cold instruments, it was left into the uterine cavity. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients without evidence of the myoma at the transvaginal ultrasound performed after 90 days from surgery.

RESULTS

Between January 1st, 2018, and March 31st, 2020, a total of 204 patients were enrolled. Most patients were nulliparous and reported abnormal uterine bleeding as the leading symptom. 76.5 % of enucleated myomas had a diameter ranging between 1.5 and 2.5 cm, and 81.4 % of SMs were of G0 or G1. Hysteroscopic procedures had a mean duration of 23.2 ± 10.5 min. The operative time was associated with the SM grade and size. All hysteroscopic procedures were completed. A vasovagal reaction was observed in 3 women (1.5 %), and minimal post-operative bleeding was reported after 7 procedures (3.4 %). None reported pelvic pain or vaginal discharges/bleeding during follow-up. The average patient satisfaction from surgery was 4.59 (5-points Likert scale). The level of patient satisfaction was not associated with the grade and the size of the myoma. In 192 (94.12 %; 98 %CI: 89.03-96.93 %) out of 204 patients, the SM was absent at the transvaginal ultrasound performed at the follow-up end. A higher prevalence of G2 SMs and lower prevalence of G1 SMs were observed among patients with evidence of the myoma after 90 days from the surgery.

CONCLUSION

Office hysteroscopic myomectomy with SM enucleation without mass extraction appears safe, well-tolerated, and effective in at least 89 % of patients. G2 SMs may be the factor associated with the procedure's failure.

Three-Year Results of the SONATA Pivotal Trial of Transcervical Fibroid Ablation for Symptomatic Uterine Myomata

Objective: This article reports on 3-year clinical outcomes of the Sonography Guided Transcervical Ablation of Uterine Fibroids (SONATA) pivotal trial of transcervical fibroid ablation (TFA) in women with symptomatic uterine myomata.

Materials and Methods: The SONATA, prospective, controlled, multicenter interventional trial enrolled 147 premenopausal women with symptomatic uterine fibroids who underwent uterus-preserving, sonography-guided TFA with the Sonata^® System (Gynesonics, Inc., Redwood City, CA, USA). Clinical outcomes were assessed over 3 years and included surgical reinterventions, Symptom Severity Score (SSS), and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) subscales of the Uterine Fibroid Symptom and Quality-of-Life Questionnaire, EuroQol 5-Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaire, Overall Treatment Effect, treatment satisfaction, physical activity, work impairment, pregnancy outcomes, and adverse events.

Results: The 3-year rates of surgical reintervention for heavy menstrual bleeding calculated by the binomial and Kaplan–Meier methods were 9.2% and 8.2%, respectively. Compared to baseline, mean SSS decreased from 55 ± 19 to 22 ± 21, HRQoL increased from 40 ± 21 to 83 ± 23, and EQ-5D increased from 0.72 ± 0.21 to 0.88 ± 0.16 (all p < 0.001). Treatment benefit on the SSS, HRQoL, and EQ-5Q exceeded the minimal clinically important difference at every follow-up visit over 3 years. At 3 years, 94% of the subjects reported treatment satisfaction, 88% reported reduced fibroid symptoms, work absenteeism due to fibroid symptoms decreased from 2.9% to 1.4%, and impairment due to fibroids decreased from 51% to 12% for work, and 58% to 14% for physical activity (all p < 0.001). No late complications occurred.

Conclusions: Women treated with sonography-guided TFA in the SONATA pivotal trial experienced significant and durable reduction of fibroid-related symptoms, with low surgical reintervention rates over 3 years of follow-up.

Estimated Prevalence and Incidence of Uterine Leiomyoma, and Its Treatment Trend in South Korean Women for 12 years: A National Population-Based Study

Background: Although uterine leiomyoma causes many problems, including infertility, there are few studies that have investigated the epidemiologic characteristics of uterine leiomyoma in South Korea. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence and incidence of uterine leiomyoma in South Korea and analyze the treatment trends. Materials and Methods: Women of reproductive age (15-54 years) were selected from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) sample cohort dataset, which was collected from 2002 to 2013. Patients with uterine leiomyoma were identified by ICD-10 (International Codes of Disease, 10th Edition) and intervention codes. Prevalence and incidence were calculated from the NHIS cohort dataset and the treatment trends were analyzed for diagnosed patients. Results: The prevalence in overall age groups increased from 0.96% in 2002 to 2.43% in 2013, and the 1-year incidences of all age groups increased. The 26-30 age group showed the highest rate of 1-year incidence increase (2.14-folds, 0.33% in 2003 to 0.70% in 2013). The proportion of myomectomy increased from 22% in 2002 to 49% in 2013, whereas the proportion of hysterectomy decreased from 78% to 45%. Conclusions: The prevalence and incidence of uterine leiomyoma are increasing in South Korea as time progresses, and the rate of incidence increase is higher in younger reproductive women. Overall trends in uterine leiomyoma treatment are shifting to the methods of the saving uterus.

Comparison of Clinical Symptoms of Assumed vs. Actual Uterine Fibroids - Symptoms Described by Patients and Ultrasound Findings

Purpose How many women assume that they have fibroids but are found not to have fibroids on ultrasound examination? How severe are the physical symptoms reported by these women compared to the symptoms reported by women with actual uterine fibroids? Are the symptoms more severe if the patient believes that she has at least one relatively large (dominant) fibroid or more than 3 fibroids? Material and Methods A total of 1548 patients completed an anonymous questionnaire in which they were asked about the number of their fibroids, dysmenorrhea and premenstrual symptoms, dyspareunia and bleeding disorders (using a numerical analog scale between 0 - 10). The questionnaire was administered in a hospital-based fibroid clinic. The information provided by the patients was then compared with transvaginal or abdominal ultrasound findings. The symptoms reported by women with and without fibroid(s) were compared. Results 1045 out of 1548 patients fulfilled the study's inclusion criteria. Contrary to the information they provided, no fibroid(s) were detected in 6% (62 of 1045 patients) of patients on ultrasound examination. Of these women, 87% had dysmenorrhea, 79% had premenstrual pain and 57% reported dyspareunia. The severity of the symptoms was found not to be associated with the assumed size or number of fibroid(s). There was no significant difference in the pain reported by women without and by women with fibroids. Reporting a feeling of strong pressure on the bladder (OR: 1.18) or abdomen (OR: 1.12) or constipation (OR: 1.16) increased the likelihood of detecting a fibroid on ultrasound investigation. Conclusions The presence of manifest symptoms (dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, premenstrual pain, bleeding disorders) does not allow conclusions to be made about the number or size of fibroids or about which therapy is indicated. Even an erroneous assumption about the presence of fibroids may result in patients experiencing symptoms.

Term Delivery in an Infertile Patient after Transcervical Radiofrequency Fibroid Ablation and Assisted Reproductive Technology

Background: Transcervical radiofrequency (RF) ablation of uterine fibroids is an incisionless procedure to treat nonpedunculated uterine fibroids, including those that are not amenable to operative hysteroscopy. However, its safety and effectiveness regarding fertility and fecundity have not been established, including among women with infertility. Case: A 38-year-old nullipara with infertility since 2008 and a recent complaint of refractory dysmenorrhea in association with a uterine fibroid underwent transcervical RF ablation with the Sonata^® System (Gynesonics, Redwood City, CA) to treat the symptomatic myoma. Unsuccessful assisted reproduction (intracytoplasmic sperm injection/embryo transfer) as confirmed by negative pregnancy testing had been attempted 1 month preablation, and a second embryo transfer after thawing the previously cryopreserved pronuclei was performed 7 months postablation. Results: RF ablation with the Sonata System resulted in a 68% reduction in fibroid volume noted on sonography 2 months post-treatment along with resolution of the patient's dysmenorrhea. No residual fibroid was noted on sonography 7 months postablation. A second attempt at assisted reproduction produced an uncomplicated pregnancy that resulted in vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery of a liveborn infant at term weighing 3670 g with Apgar scores of 9¹/10⁵/10¹⁰. Pelvic sonography 4 months postpartum an unremarkable uterus, again, with no evidence of a fibroid remnant. Conclusions: This is the first report of a pregnancy and delivery in an infertile couple who underwent transcervical RF ablation of a uterine fibroid followed by assisted reproduction.