Uterine fibroids affect pregnancy outcome in women over 30 years old: role of other risk factors

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pregnancy outcome in women >30 years old with uterine fibroids also considering other possible concomitant risk factors. METHODS: A multicentric, observational and retrospective study was conducted. All women were asked to complete a questionnaire while they were in hospital and the outcome of pregnancy was investigated. RESULTS: Women with uterine fibroids before pregnancy were more frequently >35 years old and in their clinical history before pregnancy showed more pelvic pain, polliachiuria, previous pelvic surgery, hypermenorrhea and dysmenorrhea, than control women (p < 0.0001). During pregnancy patients with uterine fibroids showed significantly more threatened preterm birth (PTB) and PTB, weight gain, hyperemesis, gestational hypertension and post-partum bleeding and showed more often requirement for emergency cesarean section (p < 0.0001). The multivariate logistic regression model used for evaluating the effect of clinical parameters on outcome of pregnancy showed that age >35 years, pelvic pain, work, weight gain, hyperemesis, threatened miscarriage and threatened PTB were significantly correlated with unfavorable pregnancy outcome , independently of the presence of uterine fibroids (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirming a more frequent negative pregnancy outcome in presence of uterine fibroids, showed that other risk factors may affect pregnancy and delivery outcome in women aging >30 years old.