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Cited by 556Uterine Myomas and TreatmentsGynecological conditions and treatmentsReproductive Health and Contraception

Prevalence, symptoms and management of uterine fibroids: an international internet-based survey of 21,746 women

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Zimmermann, Anne, Bernuit, David, Gerlinger, Christoph, Schaefers, Matthias, Geppert, Katharina·2012·BMC Women's Health
DOI 10.1186/1472-6874-12-6PMC PMC3342149
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: In 2009 the Uterine Bleeding and Pain Women's Research Study (UBP-WRS) was conducted interviewing 21,479 women across 8 countries in order to gain patient-based prevalence data on uterine pain and bleeding indications and investigate uterine symptoms and women's treatment experiences. This article shows relevant results of the study for the indication uterine fibroids providing data on self-reported prevalence, symptomatology and management of uterine fibroids. METHODS: 2,500 women (USA: 4,500 women) in each country (Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, South Korea, the UK, the USA) completed an online survey. Women included were in their reproductive age (age group 15-49 years; USA: 18-49 years) and had ever experienced menstrual bleedings. Quotas were applied for age, region, level of education and household income of respondents. Variables have been analyzed descriptively and exploratory statistical tests have been performed. RESULTS: The self-reported prevalence of uterine fibroids ranged from 4.5% (UK) to 9.8% (Italy), reaching 9.4% (UK) to 17.8% (Italy) in the age group of 40-49 years. Women with a diagnosis of uterine fibroids reported significantly more often about bleeding symptoms than women without a diagnosis: heavy bleedings (59.8% vs. 37.4%), prolonged bleedings (37.3% vs. 15.6%), bleeding between periods (33.3% vs. 13.5%), frequent periods (28.4% vs. 15.2%), irregular and predictable periods (36.3% vs. 23.9%). Furthermore women with diagnosed uterine fibroids reported significantly more often about the following pain symptoms: pressure on the bladder (32.6% vs. 15.0%), chronic pelvic pain (14.5% vs. 2.9%), painful sexual intercourse (23.5% vs. 9.1%) and pain occurring mid-cycle, after and during menstrual bleeding (31.3%, 16.7%, 59.7%, vs. 17.1%, 6.4%, 52.0%). 53.7% of women reported that their symptoms had a negative impact on their life in the last 12 month, influencing their sexual life (42.9%), performance at work (27.7%) and relationship & family (27.2%). CONCLUSIONS: Uterine fibroid is a common concern in women at fertile age causing multiple bleeding and pain symptoms which can have a negative impact on different aspects in women's life.

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  • A cross-sectional internet study among 21,476 women in eight high and middle-income countries found that 33% of women with fibroids experienced bleeding between periods compared with 14% of women without, and significantly greater proportions of women with fibroids reported heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged menstrual bleeding, and more frequent and irregular menses.

    “A cross-sectional internet study among 21 476 women in eight high and middle-income countries found that 33% of women with fibroids experienced bleeding between periods compared with 14% of women without, and significantly greater proportions of women with fibroids reported heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged menstrual bleeding, and more frequent and irregular menses as compared with their Counter”

    From Beyond menstrual hygiene: addressing vaginal bleeding throughout the life course in low and middle-income countries (2017) · cites this paper as [17]

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Authors
Zimmermann, A., Bernuit, D., Gerlinger, C., Schaefers, M., & Geppert, K.
Affiliations
  • Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (DE)
  • Bayer (Germany) (DE)
Corresponding author
Zimmermann, Anne
ORCID
Gerlinger, Christoph
Venue
BMC Women's Health
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2012-03-26
Volume
12
Issue
1
Pages
6-6
ISSN
1472-6874 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/1472-6874-12-6
PMC
PMC3342149
OpenAlex
W1998329793
Cited by
556
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 23 · 2025: 42 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 65 · 2022: 58 · 2021: 54 · 2020: 72 · 2019: 34 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 30 · 2016: 28 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 23 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 2
FWCI
26.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • BMC Women s Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Bayer HealthCare
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Uterine Myomas and Treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Gynecological conditions and treatments
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Reproductive Health and Contraception
Keywords
uterine fibroids, prevalence, menorrhagia, dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia, fibroid management, hysterectomy, uterine artery embolization, myomectomy, fibroid ablation, patient-reported outcomes, cross-national comparison, women's health, women of reproductive age
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Cross-Cultural Comparison, Dyspareunia, Female, Humans, Hysterectomy, Leiomyoma, Menstruation Disturbances, Middle Aged, Pain, Uterine Hemorrhage, Prevalence, Age Distribution, Internet, Young Adult

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