What causes uterine fibroids?

Uterine fibroids, also known as uterine leiomyoma, are the most common benign tumors of the female reproductive system. They are relatively common in daily life. Their etiology and pathogenesis are not yet fully understood. They may be related to factors such as excessive estrogen levels in the body and long-term estrogen stimulation.

1. Histogenesis of uterine fibroids

There is currently no consensus in the academic community. Some scholars believe that uterine fibroids are generated by the proliferation of immature uterine wall smooth muscle cells, while others believe that they occur in the smooth muscle tissue of the uterine vascular wall.

2. Genetics of uterine fibroids

Cytogenetics consistently confirmed that uterine fibroids had structural chromosomal abnormalities.

3. The role of sex steroid hormones in etiology

It is currently believed that the transformation process from myometrial cells to myoma formation may involve the complex interaction between normal myometrial cell mutations, sex hormones and local growth factors. Estrogen and progesterone are considered to be regulatory factors for myoma growth and play an important role in its etiology.

4. The role of growth factors in its etiology

Related studies have shown that the role of sex steroid hormones in cell proliferation and differentiation is regulated by the products of growth factors. Growth factors act locally in tissues on the growth and differentiation of estrogen-induced cells in an autocrine and paracrine manner. Therefore, growth factors also play a certain role in the etiology of uterine fibroids.