How connected are the development of PCOS and Uterine Fibroids?
Before 2001, the scientific community agreed on the disconnection between uterine fibroid and PCOS. However, that agreement came crashing after a six-year Boston University Slone Epidemiology Center study.
With its inception in 1995, this authoritative study collected and analyzed data from 23,000 pre-menopausal African American women who had zero histories of fibroids for six years.
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The researchers diligently studied the reproductive condition of these women for 24 months. Across this span, more than 3,600 fibroid cases were identified.
When researchers dug further into this data, it was discovered that the participants with PCOS were 65% more likely to develop fibroids compared to women without PCOS. This substantially established a connection between the development of fibroid and the existence of PCOS in women.
Scientists are asking why. The strongest postulation so far has been that increased androgen production offsets a counterbalancing increase in the estrogen content in the human body.
Correspondingly, when estrogen levels experience such elevations, the chances of uterine fibroid development are proportionately amplified. At this point, this is not scientifically authoritative.
Having established this, it is vital to draw the line between PCOS and fibroids despite their overbearing similarities. If you are experiencing pelvic discomfort, fertility handicaps, or irregular menstrual cycles, you should consult your health provider on the complications and what therapeutic procedures are available in your situation.
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