Prevalence and Risk Factors of Sonographically Detected Uterine Fibroid among Iraqi Women in Medical Baghdad City, Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract

Uterine fibroid (uterine myoma or leiomyoma) is the most common benign tumour of the women’s pelvic. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with uterine fibroid among Iraqi women in Baghdad, Iraq. A cross-sectional study was prospectively carried out in this survey. Women aged 13 years old and above were randomly recruited based on a systematic sampling method. The participants’ personal and history information were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire (SSAQ). In addition, a trans-abdominal ultrasound with both B-mode and Doppler was used to detect uterine fibroid. Transabdominal ultrasound was performed on 127 women with a mean age of 36.3 ± 11.5 years old. Among those, 43 (33.9%) women were reported to have a uterine fibroid. However, uterine fibroid was statistically associated with age (X2 = 35.3, P < 0.001), BMI (X2 = 11.2, P = 0.011), family history of uterine fibroid (X2 = 8.1, P = 0.005), and age at first menstruation (X2 = 12.9, P = 0.005). The prevalence of uterine fibroid detected by ultrasound was alarming among Iraqi women aged 49 to 60 years old. Being overweight, obese, having a positive family history of uterine fibroid, and early menarche increases the risk of developing uterine fibroid.