title: Prevalence of uterine myomas in women in Germany: data of an epidemiological study.
abstract: Currently, no reliable data are available concerning the prevalence of uterine myomas in Germany. In this prospective study, we examined the prevalence of myomas in women older than 30 years by means of vaginal ultrasound.
  
  
  
  2296 women, who consented to the procedure, were examined by means of vaginal ultrasound for the presence of myomas in seven gynaecological outpatient departments in Germany.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  myomas were detected in 41.6 % of all women. Age dependence: With increasing age, the prevalence of uterine myomas rose from 21.3 % (30-35 years) to 62.8 % (46-50 years). Later, the number of myomas decreased again from 56.1 % (51-55 years) to 29.4 % in women older than 55 years. Menarche/BMI: no correlation could be found between the age at first menstrual period or the body mass index and the occurrence of myomas. Parity: since the group of nulliparous women and the group of women with more than four deliveries stand out by increased occurrence of myomas, a non-linear correlation seems to exist, necessitating more in-depth discussion with regard to age dependency.
  
  
  
  The results of this study suggest that more than 40 % of women over 30 years of age suffered from myomas and more than 50 % of all women in Germany may develop uterine myomas at some time in their life.
authors.affiliation: Praxis für Frauenheilkunde und Klinische Forschung, Halberstädter Str. 122, 39112, Magdeburg, Germany. dfoth@t-online.de.
authors.forename: Hans-Joachim
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ahrendt
authors.affiliation: Praxis für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Leipziger Straße 45B, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tylkoski
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Frauenklinik, Voßstr. 9, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rabe
authors.affiliation: Praxis für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe, Ritterbrunnen 7, 38100, Brunswick, Germany.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szczes
authors.affiliation: Frauenarztpraxis, Schalaunische Straße 6-7, 06366, Köthen (Anhalt), Germany.
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Friedrich
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biometrie und Medizinische Informatik (IBMI), Medizinische Fakultät der, Universität, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Friedrich-Wilhelm
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Roehl
authors.affiliation: Institut für Biometrie und Medizinische Informatik (IBMI), Medizinische Fakultät der, Universität, Leipziger Str. 44, 39120, Magdeburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kitay
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Gynäkologie und Geburtshilfe am EVK Köln-Weyertal, Weyertal 76, 50931, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Roemer
authors.affiliation: MVZ PAN-Institut für Endokrinologie und Reproduktionsmedizin, Zeppelinstr. 1, 50667, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Dolores
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Foth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009214:Myoma; D010298:Parity; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Prevalence of myomas; Uterine leiomyomas; Uterine myomas; Vaginal ultrasound