BETHESDA, MD. — Heavy bleeding in women with fibroids was significantly associated with increased fibroid volume but not pelvic pain, according to Kristen Kjerulff, Ph.D., of Pennsylvania State University, and colleagues.
Associations between fibroid characteristics—such as size, number, and location—and the severity of symptoms—such as bleeding, bloating, and pelvic pain—have not been well researched, the investigators wrote in a poster presented at an international conference on uterine leiomyoma research sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.
In a linear regression analysis of 714 premenopausal women with fibroids, the number of days of heavy bleeding was significantly associated with increased uterine volume but not with pelvic pain.
In addition, intramural fibroids were associated with both excessive bleeding and pelvic pain; submucosal fibroids were associated with excessive bleeding but not with pelvic pain or discomfort.
The presence of at least seven fibroids was significantly associated with reports of frequent abdominal bloating.
The women were interviewed regarding risk factors, symptom severity, and other quality of life measures. Assessment of fibroids was conducted with transvaginal ultrasound for nonhysterectomy patients and pathology for hysterectomy patients.