How Western Medicine Understands the Causes of Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids, also known as uterine leiomyoma, are the most common benign tumors of the female reproductive system. The exact cause is still unclear. Based on the age at which fibroids occur, such as being more common in childbearing age, rare in adolescence, and atrophying or disappearing after menopause, it is suggested that their occurrence may be related to sex hormones.

1. Estrogen and its receptors

Related studies have shown that the effect of converting estradiol to estrone in uterine fibroid tissue is significantly reduced, and the number of estrogen receptors is higher than that in surrounding tissues. Therefore, it is believed that the high sensitivity of local fibroid tissue to estrogen is one of the important reasons for the occurrence of fibroids.

2. Progesterone and its receptors

Progesterone, also known as "female hormone", is secreted by the luteal cells of the ovaries, mainly progesterone, which promotes the maturation of female accessory organs and the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics, and maintains normal sexual desire and reproductive function. Progesterone receptors exist in fibroid tissue, and progesterone promotes the mitotic activity of uterine fibroids and stimulates the growth of fibroids.

3. Cytogenetics

About 25% to 50% of uterine fibroids have cytogenetic abnormalities, including transposition of the long arm segments of chromosomes 12 and 17, rearrangement of the long arm of chromosome 12, and partial deletion of the long arm of chromosome 7. Studies have shown that uterine fibroids are formed by the proliferation of monoclonal smooth muscle cells, and multiple uterine fibroids are formed by different clones of cells.