Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are common, benign tumors that cause considerable morbidity. Insights into the biologic and genetic mechanisms underlying these tumors at the cellular level are pointing the way to novel treatment approaches. Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) represent the most common tumor in women. These lesions disrupt the functions of the uterus and cause excessive uterine bleeding, anemia, defective implantation of an embryo, recurrent pregnancy loss, preterm labor, obstruction of labor, pelvic discomfort, and urinary incontinence and may mimic or mask malignant tumors. By the time they reach 50 years of age, nearly 70% of white women and more than 80% of black women will have had at least one fibroid; severe symptoms develop in 15 to 30% of these women.(1),(2) Uterine fibroids in black women are significantly larger at diagnosis than those ...