Pathogenesis of uterine fibroids: current understanding and future directions

Marie-Madeleine Dolmans; Felice Petraglia; William H Catherino; Jacques Donnez

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2024.02.048

Pathogenesis of uterine fibroids: current understanding and future directions

Fertil Steril. 2024 Mar 5:S0015-0282(24)00169-9. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2024.02.048. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Marie-Madeleine Dolmans¹, Felice Petraglia², William H Catherino³, Jacques Donnez⁴

Affiliations

¹ Pôle de Recherche en Gynécologie, Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique, Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL), Brussels, Belgium; Gynecology Department, Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc, Brussels, Belgium. Electronic address: marie-madeleine.dolmans@uclouvain.be.
² Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Maternal-Infancy, Careggi University Hospital Florence, Florence, Italy; Department of Experimental, Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Largo Brambilla, Italy.
³ Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland.
⁴ Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium; Society for Research into Infertility (SRI), Brussels, Belgium.

PMID: 38453042
DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2024.02.048

Abstract

Fibroids are benign uterine tumors characterized by the proliferation of uterine smooth muscle cells, embedded in an abundant extracellular matrix. Their prevalence is estimated to be >50% in women aged >45 years. Fibroids represent a considerable health burden. It is time to acquire a deeper mechanistic understanding of uterine fibroid-related etiology and pathogenesis, which may help pinpoint new strategies and an individualized approach. There is a need to gather prospective data and conduct studies to compare alternative approaches and assess long-term outcomes with respect to quality of life, recurrence of symptoms (bleeding and bulk symptoms), fertility, and even complications The goal of this review was to evaluate the widely accepted pathogenesis and identify risks factors and future directions for clinical and basic research into fibroids.

Keywords: Uterine fibroids; pathogenesis; risks factors.

Publication types

Review