Table 3.
Fibroid and Symptom Characteristics for Treated and Untreated Participants in Fibroid Growth Study, Enrollment 2001–2004a
| Characteristic | Nontreatment n (%) | Treatment n (%) | Characteristic | Nontreatment n (%) | Treatment n (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | Tolerance of current symptoms | ||||
| <30 | 5 (7) | 4 (8) | Satisfied | 34 (50) | 14 (30) |
| 30–34 | 14 (21) | 10 (21) | Mixed feelings | 20 (29) | 11 (23) |
| 35–39 | 9 (13) | 14 (29) | Dissatisfied | 10 (15) | 9 (19) |
| 40–44 | 18 (26) | 15 (21) | Very dissatisfied | 4 (6) | 13 (28) |
| 45+ | 22 (32) | 5 (10) | Missing | 0 | 1 |
| p = 0.12 | p < 0.01 | ||||
| Time since initial diagnosis of fibroids (years) | Stress scale | ||||
| <1 | 21 (32) | 12 (26) | Mean | 31.4 | 33.3 |
| 1–2 | 16 (25) | 10 (21) | SD | 17.0 | 18.6 |
| 3–5 | 9 (14) | 10 (21) | Range | 4–67 | 0–75 |
| 5–9 | 10 (15) | 9 (19) | Missing | 0 | 0 |
| 10+ | 9 (14) | 6 (13) | p = 0.68 | ||
| Missing | 4 | ||||
| p = 0.65 | |||||
| Uterine volume (cm3)b | Pain scale | ||||
| <100 | 5 (7) | 4 (8) | Mean | 27.0 | 38.7 |
| 100–299 | 30 (44) | 17 (35) | SD | 23.4 | 25.9 |
| 300–499 | 14 (21) | 9 (19) | Range | 0–100 | 0–87.5 |
| 500–999 | 12 (18) | 11 (23) | Missing | 2 | 1 |
| 1000+ | 7 (10) | 7 (15) | p = 0.02 | ||
| p = 0.42 | |||||
| Number of fibroidsc | Bleeding-problem scale | ||||
| 1 | 5 (7) | 4 (8) | Mean | 23.7 | 46.6 |
| 2 | 9 (13) | 5 (10) | SD | 24.1 | 33.8 |
| 3–5 | 15 (22) | 8 (17) | Range | 0–100 | 0–100 |
| 6–10 | 20 (29) | 15 (31) | Missing | 0 | 2 |
| >10 | 19 (28) | 16 (33) | p < 0.001 | ||
| p = 0.58 | |||||
| Hormone use | Amount-of-bleeding scale | ||||
| None | 51 (75) | 35 (74) | Mean | 14.6 | 23.7 |
| Oral contraceptives for contraception | 6 (9) | 5 (11) | SD Range | 11.60–46 | 17.10–56 |
| Oral contraceptives for irregular period or symptoms | 8 (12) | 5 (11) | Missing | 2 | 2p < 0.01 |
| Other hormone | 3 (4) | 2 (4) | |||
| Missing | 0 | ||||
| p = 0.94 | |||||
| General health | |||||
| Excellent to very good | 38 (56) | 24 (51) | |||
| Good | 24 (35) | 19 (40) | |||
| Fair | 6 (9) | 3 (6) | |||
| Poor | 0 | 1 (2) | |||
| Missing | 0 | 1 | |||
| p = 0.65 |
p values are based on comparing the entire distribution of the variables in treated and not treated participants with the nonparametric Wilcoxon rank sum test except for the hormone use variable, which was tested with the chi-square test.
Uterine volume was calculated from ultrasound data on uterine length, width, and AP diameter using the ellipsoid formula (0.52 × l × w × AP), and when ultrasound uterine diameters were not available, the uterine volume was determined based on the pelvic examination estimated weeks of gestation.
Number of fibroids was assessed by counting fibroids observable on the first visit MRI. In the few cases when first visit MRI were of poor quality because the patient moved, the count was made on the second visit MRI.