Summary
Learman LA, Nakagawa S, Gregorich SE, Jackson RA, Jacoby A, Kuppermann M. Success of uterus-preserving treatments for abnormal uterine bleeding, chronic pelvic pain, and symptomatic fibroids: age and bridges to menopause. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2011;204:272.e1-272.e7.
Does age at first uterus-preserving treatment (UPT) predict symptom resolution among women with common pelvic problems? This analysis of 557 participants (mean ± SD age at enrollment, 42.7 ± 4.7 y; mean follow-up time, 4.4 ± 2.7 y) involved multivariable regression modeling age at first UPT, hysterectomy, menopause, and other covariates to predict symptom resolution. Participants were part of the Study of Pelvic Problems, Hysterectomy and Intervention Alternatives (SOPHIA) cohort who reported a UPT. Hysterectomy was a strong predictor of symptom resolution (P < 0.001). Compared with younger women (first UPT before age 40), older women reported greater symptom resolution, even when data were controlled for hysterectomy and menopause status (P = 0.028). Researchers concluded that women over age 40 at first UPT experience greater symptom resolution than younger women. Thus, describing UPTs as hysterectomy alternatives may only be accurate for women over age 40.