Mindy S. Christianson, MD
Rana et al published a cost-effectiveness analysis in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology that evaluated the cost-effectiveness of uterine artery embolization (UAE) and myomectomy for women with symptomatic uterine fibroids wishing to avoid hysterectomy. The analysis was conducted along the FEMME randomized control trial, that examined the quality of life of menstruating women with symptomatic fibroids experience after treatment with UAE or myomectomy. Over a 2-year time period, UAE was associated with higher mean costs and lower quality-adjusted life years compared with myomectomy. Similar results were observed over the 4-year time period. The authors concluded that myomectomy is a cost-effective option for the treatment of uterine fibroids.
A third study by Moor et al evaluated the impact of herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) infection on incidence and growth of ultrasound-diagnosed uterine fibroids in a large group of African American women. As reproductive tract infections have long been suspected as risk factors for fibroid development, this is a key study. In this prospective study analyzing data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle and a large cohort of 25-35 year-old African American women with uterine fibroids were monitored by ultrasound over a 5-year period. A key finding was that fibroid HSV-2 positive status was not associated with fibroid incidence.