ABSTRACT

Uterine fibroids are the most frequent benign, solid tumors of the female genital tract (Figure 4.1). Since receptors for estrogen and progesterone can be detected in fibroid tissue, the sex steroids are thought to be the most important factors in the pathogenesis of uterine fibroids1-4. As it is well known that uterine fibroids react to changes in the endocrine environment, for instance fast growth during pregnancy and shrinkage after the menopause5,6, treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists for 3-6 months has become a well established therapeutic approach whenever preoperative treatment for conservative surgery

Figure 4.1 Uterine fibroid

seems to be advisable. Reductions in uterine and myoma size of approximately 50% have been reported. This may be an important factor for surgical treatment of fibroids7,8. On the other hand, it should be emphasized that many of these surgeries are performed without the use of GnRH analogs. The overall rate of myoma operation after GnRH agonist treatment is probably very small.