Frequency of Urinary Symptoms in Women with Uterine Leiomyoma

• Grant number: 24/08120-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2024
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Maternal and Child Health
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Gustavo Oliveira Brito
• Grantee: Letícia Quintana Herren
• Host Institution: Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher (CAISM). Hospital da Mulher Professor Doutor José Aristodemo Pinotti. Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

**Introduction:**Uterine leiomyoma is the most common gynecological tumor in the female population and represents one of the most common causes of hysterectomy. Its most common symptoms are abnormal bleeding and pelvic pain; however, the size and position of the fibroid may possibly influence the emergence of urinary symptoms, given that the bladder is located anterior to the uterus.**Justification:**There are few studies seeking to understand whether there is a higher or lower frequency of urinary symptoms in women with uterine leiomyoma.**Objectives:**To describe the frequency of urinary symptoms in asymptomatic women or those not suffering from uterine leiomyoma referred for clinical and/or surgical treatment at a referral center.**Methods:**A cross-sectional study will be conducted from August 2024 to July 2025 with women with asymptomatic or symptomatic uterine leiomyoma receiving care at a referral center with a diagnosis suggested by pelvic ultrasound (US) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These women will complete a protocol form with socio-demographic and clinical variables, a specific questionnaire for leiomyoma (UFS-QOL), and a gynecological examination. The leiomyoma will be analyzed by US using the FIGO classification (1 to 7), largest diameter, volume, and presence or absence of a pedicle. The urinary symptoms to be investigated are: dysuria, frequency, sensation of incomplete emptying, urinary incontinence, nocturia, urgency, increased bladder sensitivity, and urinary retention. The dependent variable will be urinary symptom (yes/no), created from the positive response to one or more of the urinary symptoms described above.**Expected Results:**It is believed that the composite variable of urinary symptoms will present a high prevalence in women with uterine leiomyoma. The aim is to analyze whether the frequency of urinary symptoms varies according to the presence of uterine leiomyoma symptoms or according to the characteristics of the leiomyoma (size, position, volume, etc.). Depending on the results of this study, urinary symptoms may be considered another factor impacting the outcome of clinical and/or surgical treatment of women with uterine leiomyoma.