OBJECTIVE: To determine baseline characteristics of women undergoing uterine artery embolization (UAE) for symptomatic fibroids. DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective, single-arm clinical treatment trial. SETTING: Eight Ontario university and community hospitals. PATIENT(S): Five hundred fifty-five women undergoing UAE for fibroids. INTERVENTION(S): Baseline questionnaires completed before UAE. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Questionnaires were analyzed for demographic, medical, and gynecologic histories. Fibroid symptoms, impact of symptoms, previous consultations, and treatments were also analyzed. RESULT(S): The Ontario cohort (66% white, 23% black, 11% other races) had an average age of 43. Thirty-one percent were under age 40. Most women were university educated (68%) and working outside the home (85%). Women reported heavy menstrual bleeding (80%), urinary urgency/frequency (73%), pain during intercourse (41%), and work absences (40%). They experienced fibroid-related symptoms for an average of 5 years and consulted with on average of three gynecologists before UAE. High fibroid life-impact scores were reported by 58%. Black women were significantly younger (40.7 vs. 44.0 years), more likely to experience symptoms longer (7 vs. 5 years), and more likely to undergo myomectomy before UAE (24% vs. 9%) than white women. CONCLUSION(S): Our study illustrates that large numbers of women with highly symptomatic fibroid disease are averse to surgery despite their burden of suffering and are actively seeking alternatives to hysterectomy.
OBJECTIVE: To determine baseline characteristics of women undergoing uterine artery embolization (UAE) for symptomatic fibroids. DESIGN: Multicenter, prospective, single-arm clinical treatment trial. SETTING: Eight Ontario university and community hospitals. PATIENT(S): Five hundred fifty-five women undergoing UAE for fibroids. INTERVENTION(S): Baseline questionnaires completed before UAE. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Questionnaires were analyzed for demographic, medical, and gynecologic histories. Fibroid symptoms, impact of symptoms, previous consultations, and treatments were also analyzed. RESULT(S): The Ontario cohort (66% white, 23% black, 11% other races) had an average age of 43. Thirty-one percent were under age 40. Most women were university educated (68%) and working outside the home (85%). Women reported heavy menstrual bleeding (80%), urinary urgency/frequency (73%), pain during intercourse (41%), and work absences (40%). They experienced fibroid-related symptoms for an average of 5 years and consulted with on average of three gynecologists before UAE. High fibroid life-impact scores were reported by 58%. Black women were significantly younger (40.7 vs. 44.0 years), more likely to experience symptoms longer (7 vs. 5 years), and more likely to undergo myomectomy before UAE (24% vs. 9%) than white women. CONCLUSION(S): Our study illustrates that large numbers of women with highly symptomatic fibroid disease are averse to surgery despite their burden of suffering and are actively seeking alternatives to hysterectomy.
Authors: David Shveiky; Cheryl B Iglesia; Danielle D Antosh; Bela I Kudish; Joanna Peterson; Chun-Chih Huang; Chun-Chin Huang; James B Spies Journal: Int Urogynecol J Date: 2012-12-18 Impact factor: 2.894