Review of the Clinical Presentation of Uterine Fibroid and the Effect of Therapeutic Intervention on Fertility

Abstract

Uterine fibroid is a common gynecological problem among women of reproductive age. The objective of this study was to review the common clinical presentation of uterine fibroid and assess the effect of therapeutic intervention on fertility. A retrospective descriptive study of 368 women, who were managed for uterine fibroid over a 5 years period (January 1st, 2008 to December 311st, 2012) was conducted at a University Teaching Hospital. The main outcome measures were common presentations, effect of treatment on fertility. Data were analyzed with Epi Info™ statistical software version 7.0. The incidence of uterine fibroids was 29.3%. Fibroids mainly affected those in the reproductive age group (31-40 years). The common clinical presentations- were abdominopelvic mass (100%), menorrhagia (95.7%), infertility (41.9%), anemia (32.9%), dysmenorrhoea (12.5%), abdominopelvic pain (15.8%), and urinary pressure symptoms (6.8%). Abdominal myomectomy (97.3%) was the main stay of treatment. The Odd Ratio of achieving pregnancy within two year of therapeutic intervention was 1.33 (0.27-6.60), p-value=0.0007, while the risk ratio of recurrent pregnancy loss was about three times less in those who had therapeutic interventions [3.56 (0.52-24.21)], p-value=0.11. Uterine fibroid presents with abnormal uterine bleeding and impaired fertility in women of reproductive age, and removal conferred fertility benefits in some cases.