The development of uterine fibroids is the result of the interaction of several factors, but there is still no complete and correct conclusion on whether these factors can promote the development of estrogen and progesterone induced fibroids. Nevertheless, epidemiological investigations in recent years have identified the following ten factors as possible high-risk factors for the development of uterine fibroids.
(i) Age of menarche and number of deliveries
The earlier the age of menarche, the higher the incidence of fibroids.
The incidence of fibroids in fertile women is significantly lower than that in infertile women, and decreases with the number of pregnancies, probably because pregnancy reduces the duration of estrogen action.
(ii) Age
Late childbearing (around 40 years of age) is often considered a high risk factor for the development of uterine fibroids.
This age is often near perimenopause, during which ovarian ovulatory dysfunction may exist, and may also be the result of 20 to 30 years of cumulative estrogenic and progestational hormone action during this period.
(iii) Obesity
Recent studies have found that obesity is positively correlated with the incidence of uterine fibroids. And every 10kg increase in body weight of women can increase the risk of uterine fibroids by 21%, or every 1 unit increase in body mass index can increase the risk of uterine fibroids by 6%.
(iv) Diet
Although the correlation between diet and the development of fibroids is often not taken seriously, some studies have reported that the incidence of fibroids is significantly higher in women whose staple diet is animal food than in women whose staple diet is green vegetables.
(v) Racial differences
Studies have shown that the incidence of fibroids in black Americans is 3.4 times that of whites. The incidence of uterine fibroids in Easterners is lower than that in Westerners.
(F) Heredity
There is no obvious genetic predisposition to fibroids. However, fibroids often appear in women in the immediate family at the same time. If one of the sisters or mothers and daughters in the family has fibroids, the others are likely to have fibroids as well. This is called familial aggregation.
(vii) Oral contraceptive pills
Emergency contraceptive pills are used as a regular means of contraception. Studies have found that the use of emergency oral contraceptives can significantly increase the incidence of fibroids if used at an earlier age (<13 to 16 years). < span="">
(viii) Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Studies have found that postmenopausal women using hormone replacement therapy can significantly increase the incidence of uterine fibroids.
(ix) Exogenous estrogen-like substances
They are mainly harmful substances in the environment, and their mechanism of action is more complicated, with substances that antagonize the effects of estrogen and substances that promote the effects of estrogen. Recent studies have found that dichlorodiphenol-trichloroethane (DDT) and its analogues, which are pesticides used in agriculture, have estrogenic effects and can promote the development of uterine fibroids.
(X) Mental factors
Excessive work tension, stress or family discord, emotional trauma, and poor mood may cause ovarian dysfunction, leading to the occurrence of uterine fibroids.