Awareness, burden and treatment of uterine fibroids: a web-based Italian survey
Uterine fibroids (UFs) are the most common benign tumors in women of reproductive age and one of the leading causes of hysterectomy in Italy. This survey aimed to report how Italian women perceive and approach UFs, in order to raise healthcare professionals (HCPs)’, institutions’ and women’s awarene...
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| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Gynecological Endocrinology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09513590.2025.2477499 |
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| author | Felice Petraglia Stefano Angioni Attilio Di Spiezio Sardo Michele Vignali |
| author_facet | Felice Petraglia Stefano Angioni Attilio Di Spiezio Sardo Michele Vignali |
| author_sort | Felice Petraglia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Uterine fibroids (UFs) are the most common benign tumors in women of reproductive age and one of the leading causes of hysterectomy in Italy. This survey aimed to report how Italian women perceive and approach UFs, in order to raise healthcare professionals (HCPs)’, institutions’ and women’s awareness of UFs and their treatment options. 1508 Italian women aged 30–50 years completed a web-based survey, answering a structured questionnaire focused on UF prevalence, symptomatology and impact, management and awareness. UF self-reported prevalence was 28.8%. Most UF-diagnosed women had symptom(s) before diagnosis (79.0%), and more than a half of UF-diagnosed participants were symptomatic post-diagnosis (55.8%). The most common symptoms after diagnosis were heavy menstrual bleeding (73.1%), dysmenorrhea (50.4%) and pelvic pain (36.8%). UFs negatively affected the quality of life of most symptomatic women, as well as sexuality and employment. Private gynecologists were the key reference HCPs for consultation and UF diagnosis. The most common UF treatments for symptomatic women were surgery (49.2%), followed by oral contraceptives (39.3%). Surgery was also performed for 22.9% of asymptomatic participants. UF-diagnosed participants were not involved in therapeutic choices in 37.6% of cases. Women’s knowledge about UFs was mostly superficial (58.7% of all participants), with gynecologists and family/friends as main information sources. Patient-physician communication was rather unsatisfactory, especially about UF therapeutic options and disease impact on sexuality, fertility and lifestyle. This survey highlights that there is still a need to promote patient’s knowledge about UFs and empowerment in treatment decision. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bda247d1fffe4a0c86531b67ab2769be |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0951-3590 1473-0766 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gynecological Endocrinology |
| spelling | doaj-art-bda247d1fffe4a0c86531b67ab2769be2025-08-20T02:41:39ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGynecological Endocrinology0951-35901473-07662025-12-0141110.1080/09513590.2025.2477499Awareness, burden and treatment of uterine fibroids: a web-based Italian surveyFelice Petraglia0Stefano Angioni1Attilio Di Spiezio Sardo2Michele Vignali3Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, ItalyDivision of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, ItalyDepartment of Public Health, University Federico II of Naples, Naples, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Science for the Health, University of Milan, Milan, ItalyUterine fibroids (UFs) are the most common benign tumors in women of reproductive age and one of the leading causes of hysterectomy in Italy. This survey aimed to report how Italian women perceive and approach UFs, in order to raise healthcare professionals (HCPs)’, institutions’ and women’s awareness of UFs and their treatment options. 1508 Italian women aged 30–50 years completed a web-based survey, answering a structured questionnaire focused on UF prevalence, symptomatology and impact, management and awareness. UF self-reported prevalence was 28.8%. Most UF-diagnosed women had symptom(s) before diagnosis (79.0%), and more than a half of UF-diagnosed participants were symptomatic post-diagnosis (55.8%). The most common symptoms after diagnosis were heavy menstrual bleeding (73.1%), dysmenorrhea (50.4%) and pelvic pain (36.8%). UFs negatively affected the quality of life of most symptomatic women, as well as sexuality and employment. Private gynecologists were the key reference HCPs for consultation and UF diagnosis. The most common UF treatments for symptomatic women were surgery (49.2%), followed by oral contraceptives (39.3%). Surgery was also performed for 22.9% of asymptomatic participants. UF-diagnosed participants were not involved in therapeutic choices in 37.6% of cases. Women’s knowledge about UFs was mostly superficial (58.7% of all participants), with gynecologists and family/friends as main information sources. Patient-physician communication was rather unsatisfactory, especially about UF therapeutic options and disease impact on sexuality, fertility and lifestyle. This survey highlights that there is still a need to promote patient’s knowledge about UFs and empowerment in treatment decision.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09513590.2025.2477499Uterine fibroidsburdensurgeryinformationawarenessshared-decision making |
| spellingShingle | Felice Petraglia Stefano Angioni Attilio Di Spiezio Sardo Michele Vignali Awareness, burden and treatment of uterine fibroids: a web-based Italian survey Gynecological Endocrinology Uterine fibroids burden surgery information awareness shared-decision making |
| title | Awareness, burden and treatment of uterine fibroids: a web-based Italian survey |
| title_full | Awareness, burden and treatment of uterine fibroids: a web-based Italian survey |
| title_fullStr | Awareness, burden and treatment of uterine fibroids: a web-based Italian survey |
| title_full_unstemmed | Awareness, burden and treatment of uterine fibroids: a web-based Italian survey |
| title_short | Awareness, burden and treatment of uterine fibroids: a web-based Italian survey |
| title_sort | awareness burden and treatment of uterine fibroids a web based italian survey |
| topic | Uterine fibroids burden surgery information awareness shared-decision making |
| url | https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/09513590.2025.2477499 |
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