Marissa S Ghant1, Katherine S Sengoba1, Hannah Recht1, Kenzie A Cameron2, Angela K Lawson1, Erica E Marsh3. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611 USA. 2. Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. 3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611 USA. Electronic address: erica-marsh@northwestern.edu.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To qualitatively assess the burden of uterine fibroids on women's emotional health. METHODS: Sixty women (n = 60) with symptomatic uterine fibroids were recruited from an urban academic medical center and community-based organizations. Women completed qualitative, semi-structured interviews and demographic surveys. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Using a grounded theory approach, three coders independently identified major themes and subthemes that emerged from the interviews. RESULTS: The kappa among coders was 0.94. The mean age of participants was 43.0 ± 6.8. 61.7% of participants self-identified as African-American, 25.0% as Caucasian, 8.3% as Hispanic and 5.0% as Asian. Most participants exhibited a significant emotional response to their fibroids, including fear, anxiety, anger, and depression. Half of the women felt helpless and believed that they had no control over their fibroids. Many women possessed a negative self-image and cited concern over appearing less attractive, which led to difficulties becoming intimate. Several women felt that they lacked substantial support to help them deal with these issues. CONCLUSION: In addition to the known high prevalence and severe physical impact of uterine fibroids, there is a significant psychological impact on women. Many women lack support to help them deal with these issues and very few seek help from a mental health professional. There is an opportunity and a need for the mental health community to address the concerns in this population, in order to improve psychological health and quality of life in patients living with this chronic condition.
OBJECTIVE: To qualitatively assess the burden of uterine fibroids on women's emotional health. METHODS: Sixty women (n = 60) with symptomatic uterine fibroids were recruited from an urban academic medical center and community-based organizations. Women completed qualitative, semi-structured interviews and demographic surveys. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Using a grounded theory approach, three coders independently identified major themes and subthemes that emerged from the interviews. RESULTS: The kappa among coders was 0.94. The mean age of participants was 43.0 ± 6.8. 61.7% of participants self-identified as African-American, 25.0% as Caucasian, 8.3% as Hispanic and 5.0% as Asian. Most participants exhibited a significant emotional response to their fibroids, including fear, anxiety, anger, and depression. Half of the women felt helpless and believed that they had no control over their fibroids. Many women possessed a negative self-image and cited concern over appearing less attractive, which led to difficulties becoming intimate. Several women felt that they lacked substantial support to help them deal with these issues. CONCLUSION: In addition to the known high prevalence and severe physical impact of uterine fibroids, there is a significant psychological impact on women. Many women lack support to help them deal with these issues and very few seek help from a mental health professional. There is an opportunity and a need for the mental health community to address the concerns in this population, in order to improve psychological health and quality of life in patients living with this chronic condition.
Authors: Erica E Marsh; Ayman Al-Hendy; Dale Kappus; Alex Galitsky; Elizabeth A Stewart; Majid Kerolous Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2018-09-19 Impact factor: 2.681
Authors: Marissa S Ghant; Katherine S Sengoba; Robert Vogelzang; Angela K Lawson; Erica E Marsh Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2016-05-19 Impact factor: 2.681
Authors: Ijeoma Okeigwe; Serdar Bulun; Shimeng Liu; Alfred W Rademaker; John S Coon; Stacy Kujawa; Jared Robins; Ping Yin Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2019-12-01 Impact factor: 5.958
Authors: Kedra Wallace; Elizabeth A Stewart; Lauren A Wise; Wanda Kay Nicholson; John Preston Parry; Shuaiqi Zhang; Shannon Laughlin-Tommaso; Vanessa Jacoby; Raymond M Anchan; Michael P Diamond; Sateria Venable; Amber Shiflett; Ganesa R Wegienka; George Larry Maxwell; Daniel Wojdyla; Evan R Myers; Erica Marsh Journal: J Womens Health (Larchmt) Date: 2021-06-08 Impact factor: 2.681