Uterine Fibroid Prevalence in a Predominantly Black, Chicago-Based Cohort.

(1) Objectives: To investigate the effect of individual-level, neighborhood, and environmental variables on uterine fibroid (UF) prevalence in a Chicago-based cohort. (2) Methods: Data from the Chicago Multiethnic Prevention and Surveillance Study (COMPASS) were analyzed. Individual-level variables were obtained from questionnaires, neighborhood variables from the Chicago Health Atlas, and environmental variables from NASA satellite ambient air exposure levels. The Shapiro-Wilk test, logistic regression models, and Spearman's correlations were used to evaluate the association of variables to UF diagnosis. (3) Results: We analyzed 602 participants (mean age: 50.3 ± 12.3) who responded to a question about UF diagnosis. More Black than White participants had a UF diagnosis (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 0.62-2.79). We observed non-significant trends between individual-level and neighborhood variables and UF diagnosis. Ambient air pollutants, PM2.5, and DSLPM were protective against UF diagnosis (OR 0.20, CI: 0.04-0.97: OR 0.33, CI: 0.13-0.87). (4) Conclusions: Associations observed within a sample in a specific geographic area may not be generalizable and must be interpreted cautiously.

Fibroids and Fertility.

Uterine fibroids significantly impact women's reproductive health, influencing fertility potential and pregnancy outcomes. Their growth, often facilitated by hormonal influences like estrogen and progesterone, can cause considerable disruptions in the uterus, leading to symptoms and complications that impact the quality of life and reproductive prospects of women.This article provides an exhaustive discussion of uterine fibroids, including pathophysiology, their impact on endometrial function, receptivity, fertility, and pregnancy outcomes, and the management of infertility in patients with uterine fibroids. It underlines the critical role of uterine fibroids in women's reproductive health, emphasizing the importance of effective diagnosis and treatment to promote fertility and improve pregnancy outcomes.

Investigating Fumarate Hydratase-Deficient Uterine Fibroids: A Case Series.

Uterine leiomyomas or uterine fibroids are the most common benign soft tissue tumor in reproductive-aged women. Fumarate hydratase deficient (FH-d) uterine fibroids are a rare subtype that is diagnosed only on pathologic evaluation. FH-d uterine fibroids may be the first indicator of hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (HLRCC) syndrome. Therefore, identifying and understanding the clinical implication and diagnosis of FH-d uterine fibroids is critical for early diagnosis of HLRCC. This case series investigates the uncommon yet significant condition of FH-d uterine fibroids. We examined the clinical manifestation, diagnostic imaging, and histopathological characteristics of FH-d uterine fibroids in five cases identified at our institution over the last ten years. All diagnoses were confirmed by pathologic evaluation after surgical treatment. Gynecologists and pathologists play a critical role in the early diagnosis of FH-d uterine fibroids and must recognize the relevant clinical and pathologic findings that raise suspicion about this diagnosis. The detection of these cases is largely dependent on the pathologist's ability to recognize unique histopathologic features. Once these characteristics are identified, it should prompt a referral to a gynecologist to consider conducting germline genetic testing. The management of FH-d uterine fibroids necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, including proper genetic screening and regular surveillance, especially for renal tumors.

GnRH agonists and antagonists in therapy of symptomatic uterine fibroids - current roles and future perspectives.

INTRODUCTION: Uterine fibroids are the most common noncancerous tumors in women of childbearing age. This review was developed to evaluate the current role of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and antagonists in the therapy of symptomatic uterine fibroids. AREAS COVERED: There is a great need for alternative methods for surgical treatment of uterine fibroids. Hormonal therapy remains the first-line treatment option for most patients. GnRH analogs (agonists and antagonists) modulate the pulsatile release of GnRH. This review summarizes the available literature concerning pharmacologic principles underlying the mechanism of action of GnRH and its analogs, as well as individual therapeutic applications to which these drugs have been applied. EXPERT OPINION: In many cases, it is possible to try to treat uterine fibroids pharmacologically. Both groups of GnRH analogs are used in therapy, agonists instead as a preparation for surgery, and antagonists as a drug for long-term use. It is essential to develop this path further and look for at least long-term-release systems or new methods of administering these drugs. It is also important from the patient's perspective to search for possible drugs that may have an additive effect of decreasing side effects when combined with GnRH analogs.

Prevention of Uterine Fibroids: molecular mechanisms and potential clinical application.

Uterine fibroids (UFs; leiomyoma) are the most common benign neoplastic threat to women worldwide, exacting an immense personal burden on female health and a monetary expense to the healthcare system estimated in the hundreds of billions of dollars every year globally. With no long-term non-invasive treatment option currently available to treat UFs, deeper insights regarding tumor etiology are the key for developing newer therapies. Accordingly, in this review, we discuss new mechanistic paradigm to explain UF tumor development through an exquisite model involving developmental reprogramming of myometrial stem cells due to early life endocrine disruptors exposure, inflammation, fibrosis, DNA damage, and eventually tissue stiffness. Further, we propose to utilize shear wave elastography as a potential screening tool for the early identification of women at risk for developing UFs who can benefit from several simple preventive strategies, including the consumption of natural compounds such as vitamin D and green tea as a safe fertility friendly non-hormonal modality to delay or even arrest or reverse UF progression.

GnRH analogs for the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids.

Treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding associated with uterine fibroids (UF) is evolving. Historically, treatment options were limited to predominantly invasive surgery; today, conservative and novel oral medical treatments are widely available for use with significant efficacy. This evolution was directly driven by our improved understanding of UF pathophysiology. Specifically, our recognition of the hormone-mediated pathway in UF development and growth laid the framework for using GnRH agonist analogs in treating UF. In this report, we explore the use of GnRH analogs in the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding associated with UF in phases. We review historical perspectives, discuss the development and use of aternatives to GnRH analogs, a period we refer to as the "Dark Ages" of GnRH analogs, we then provide an overview of the later years and present-day use of GnRH analogs and discuss opportunities for future directions.

What We Know about the Long-Term Risks of Hysterectomy for Benign Indication-A Systematic Review.

Hysterectomy is the most common treatment option in women with uterine fibroids, providing definitive relief from the associated burdensome symptoms. As with all surgical interventions, hysterectomy is associated with risk of complications, short-term morbidities, and mortality, all of which have been described previously. However, information on the potential long-term risks of hysterectomy is only recently becoming available. A systematic literature review was performed to identify studies published between 2005 and December 2020 evaluating the long-term impact of hysterectomy on patient outcomes. A total of 29 relevant studies were identified. A review of the articles showed that hysterectomy may increase the risk of cardiovascular events, certain cancers, the need for further surgery, early ovarian failure and menopause, depression, and other outcomes. It is important to acknowledge that the available studies examine possible associations and hypotheses rather than causality, and there is a need to establish higher quality studies to truly evaluate the long-term consequences of hysterectomy. However, it is of value to consider these findings when discussing the benefits and risks of all treatment options with patients with uterine fibroids to allow for preference-based choices to be made in a shared decision-making process. This is key to ensuring that patients receive the treatment that best meets their individual needs.

Racial Distribution and Characterization of Pelvic Organ Prolapse in a Hospital-Based Subspecialty Clinic.

OBJECTIVES: Prior literature has suggested a decreased prevalence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in Black women. We sought to describe POP rates by race, investigate whether specific types of prolapse differ based on race, and investigate the role of uterine weight and fibroids on POP. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of new patients seen between April 2017 and April 2019 at a tertiary urogynecology clinic. Variables collected included POP quantification, race, age, smoking history, medical history, gravity, parity, vaginal delivery, hysterectomy, fibroids, and uterine weight. χ2 tests were used to compare the proportions of types of POP between Black and non-Black women. Binary and ordinal logistic regression tested the association between types of prolapse and race, adjusting for covariates. RESULTS: Nine hundred thirty-six patients were identified by ICD codes, 768 met inclusion criteria. There were 85.3% of the women identified as non-Black and 14.7% identified as Black. There were 39.8% of the Black women that had a fibroid diagnosis compared with 20.8% of non-Black women (P < 0.001). Black women had a higher median uterine weight, 112.2 g versus 56 g (P = 0.002), and median fibroid size, 3.4 cm versus 1.92 cm (P = 0.0001). 56.9% of women presented with anterior prolapse. No difference was found in POP type between Black and non-Black women after adjusting for age, body mass index, parity, and delivery route (P = 0.45). CONCLUSIONS: Black women had increased body mass index, rates of comorbidities (diabetes and hypertension), higher uterine weight and fibroid size than non-Black women in our study. However, there was no significant difference in POP type based on race.

Robot-assisted laparoscopy in benign gynecology: Advantageous device or controversial gimmick?

The growth of robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery has been exponential since its FDA approval for use in gynecologic surgery in the spring of 2005; however, controversy surrounding its use has been associated with this rise in utilization. Much of this discussion has pitted the conventional laparoscopist against the robotic surgeon particularly as it relates to issues such as operative time, costs, and the current scientific evidence. Although drawbacks exist in robotic technology, there are also clear and obvious advantages that are difficult to quantify in the scientific literature but evident to users. This chapter highlights the current state of affairs regarding the scientific literature with an evidence-based focus on the most commonly applied application - benign hysterectomy.

The effect of the MFM obesity protocol on cesarean delivery rates.

BACKGROUND: Obesity in pregnancy has an impact on both the mother and the fetus. To date, no universal protocol has been established to guide the management of pregnancy in obese woman. In April 2011, the Geisinger Maternal-Fetal Medicine Department implemented an obesity protocol in which women meeting the following criteria were delivered by their estimated due dates: (1) class III obese or (2) class II obese with additional diagnoses of a large-for-gestational-age fetus or pregnancy complicated by gestational diabetes or (3) class I obese with large-for-gestational-age and gestational diabetes. OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess the impact of this protocol on the rate of cesarean deliveries in obese women. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 5000 randomly selected women who delivered at Geisinger between January 2009 and September 2013, excluding those who delivered in 2011. The data were stratified into obese and nonobese and divided into before protocol and after protocol. Comparison across all groups was accomplished using Wilcoxon rank sum and Pearson's χ(2) tests. Potential confounders were controlled for using logistic regression. RESULTS: The cesarean delivery rate in the obese/after protocol group was 10.8% lower than in the obese/before protocol group (42.4% vs 31.6%, respectively; P < .0001). In addition, when controlling for age, race, smoking status, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and intrauterine growth restriction, obese women were 37% less likely to have a cesarean delivery after the protocol than they were before (odds ratio, 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.52, 0.76, P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Implementation of a maternal-fetal medicine obesity protocol did not increase the rate of cesarean deliveries in obese women. On the contrary, obese women were less likely to have a cesarean delivery after implementation of the protocol.

Unique complication of a Shirodkar cerclage: remote formation of a vesicocervical fistula in a patient with the history of cervical cerclage placement: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cerclage placement is an accepted treatment for cervical insufficiency and recurrent second-trimester pregnancy loss. The most commonly described complications of cerclage include rupture of fetal membranes, intra-amniotic infection, endometritis, and peripartum bleeding. We present a unique case of a vesicocervical fistula formation remote from cerclage placement. CASE: A vesicocervical fistula was diagnosed in a 51-year-old patient who presented with a chief complaint of vaginal bleeding. The fistula was found on cystoscopic examination after the extrusion, from the cervix, of Mersilene tape from a Shirodkar cerclage placed 13 years earlier for management of cervical insufficiency. CONCLUSION: Although the presented condition was managed conservatively, one should discuss remote formation of urogenital fistulae as a rare complication of cervical cerclage at the time of informed consent.

Giant fibroepithelial stromal polyp of the vulva: largest case reported.

BACKGROUND: Fibroepithelial stromal polyps are site-specific mesenchymal lesions that are commonly found in the vulvovaginal region in premenopausal females. These polyps usually are less than 5 cm in diameter and are most commonly identified during routine gynecological examination. Although the stromal polyp is benign, its differential diagnosis includes some malignant vulva lesions making it critical to ensure that an accurate pathologic diagnosis is made. CASE: We present a case of a 21 year old female with a giant fibroepithelial stromal polyp of the vulva. Upon review of the literature this is the largest reported fibroepithelial stromal polyp to date. CONCLUSION: Fibroepithelial stromal polyps can grow as large as 390 grams and can be 18.5-cm in diameter. Microscopic evaluation of the polyp is critical in the exclusion of malignancy with this diagnosis.