Fertility and uterine size among Asian women undergoing hysterectomy for leiomyomas.
OBJECTIVE
To ascertain whether an epidemiological relationship exists between fertility and uterine leiomyomas, and whether uterine size is associated with fertility among Asian women undergoing hysterectomy for leiomyomas.


METHODS
The study was conducted in Sapporo, Japan. 91 women undergoing hysterectomy for myomas were compared with age-matched controls with respect to reproductive factors. Further comparisons were made of these factors in women with large myomas and those with small ones.


RESULTS
Women with leiomyomas were more likely to be nulliparous than controls (P < .01), and the risk of leiomyoma increased as the number of births decreased (P < .01). Time since last birth was associated with increased risk in women with large myomas (P < .05). Women with fewer births undergoing hysterectomy for leiomyomas tended to have greater uterine weight.


CONCLUSIONS
Fewer births may be a cause of larger leiomyomas.
Sato
F
F
Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Japan.
Miyake
H
H
Nishi
M
M
Kudo
R
R
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000209:etiology; D007564:Japan; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D010298:Parity; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D014599:Uterus / Q000033:anatomy & histology*