'The disease ruined my life': a qualitative study of the quality of life in women with uterine fibroids.

Abstract

Purpose: Symptomatic uterine fibroids are difficult to live with because affected women experience many clinical manifestations that can impact their quality of life. The purpose of the current study was to explore the quality of life in women with uterine fibroids.

Methods: This qualitative study was conducted on a purposive sample of women with uterine fibroids, using conventional content analysis based on Granheim and Lundman's approach. The steps included transcribing verbatim immediately after conducting each interview, reading the entire text to obtain an overall concept, identifying semantic units, coding, classifying similar codes into more comprehensive subcategories and categories, and extracting the main themes. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth individual interviews with 15 patients with uterine fibroids who were referred to the health centers and a teaching hospital of Zanjan, Iran, from September 2022 to July 2023. The data collection was continued until data saturation.

Results: Twenty-five eligible patients were invited to participate in the study, and 15 of them accepted, resulting in an agreement rate of 60%. While women expressed devastating experiences due to the disease, they also indicated some positive elements in their day-to-day living. Overall, four themes emerged from the data analysis as follows: health challenges, determination for an optimal lifestyle, perceived social support, and religious practice.

Conclusion: The impact of uterine fibroids on quality of life is complex, extending beyond physical, psychological, and social effects. In addition to these known dimensions, spirituality and perceived support are also crucial. Addressing these dimensions is essential for improving quality of life of women with uterine fibroids.