Association Between Hyperlipidemia and Uterine Fibroid Size

Abstract

Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) are common benign tumors affecting women, mostly throughout their reproductive years and menopause. Their development is influenced by multiple factors, including age, race, metabolic conditions, lifestyle, reproductive history, genetics, and hormonal exposures. Although often asymptomatic, fibroids can cause uterine bleeding and pain. Lipid metabolism alterations have been implicated in fibroid pathogenesis, with estrogen and progesterone playing key roles in tumor growth and maintenance. This study aimed to investigate the association between uterine fibroid size and lipid profile abnormalities. A cross-sectional study enrolled 70 reproductive-age women with gynecological complaints from Albida City clinics (Nov 2023–Jan 2026). Cases had ultrasound-confirmed uterine fibroids; controls had normal ultrasounds. Data on medical history, BMI, and fibroid characteristics were collected. Fasting lipid profiles were measured. Analysis was done using SPSS v26, reporting percentages and means ± SD. This research involved 70 women with an average age of 34.8 years, predominantly aged 31–40 years. Most participants were overweight or obese (mean BMI 29.4 kg/m²). Over half reported no significant medical history, and the majority were not on regular medication. Lipid profiles revealed elevated cholesterol and triglyceride levels in a considerable portion of the sample. Submucous fibroids were the most common type (45.7%), followed by intramural fibroids (28.6%). No significant associations were found between fibroid size and age or BMI categories. Similarly, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and VLDL levels showed no significant relationship with fibroid size. However, triglyceride levels were significantly higher in women with large fibroids (≥5 cm) compared to those with smaller fibroids (p = 0.020). Pearson correlation analysis identified a weak but statistically significant positive correlation between LDL cholesterol levels and fibroid size (r = 0.257, p = 0.032), while other lipid parameters and BMI showed no meaningful correlations.