Hysteroscopic and ultrasonographic evaluation of ulipristal acetate treatment for symptomatic myomas in premenopausal women: a prospective study

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to analyze the effects of a six-month therapy with ulipristal acetate (UPA) on myoma size and endometrial thickness in premenopausal women.

Material and methods

Seventy-four women undergoing conservative therapy with UPA were enrolled for this study. All women underwent transvaginal ultrasound evaluation to assess the endometrial thickness, and the number and size of myomas at the beginning and after six months. Hysteroscopy and biopsy were performed after six months, if necessary.

Results

After six months of treatment, sonographic examination showed a statistically significant (p < .05) reduction of the size of the largest myoma (56.3 ± 5.1 vs. 31.7 ± 10.1 mm) and a statistically significant (p < .05) increase in endometrial thickness (5.9 ± 2.1 vs. 9.7 ± 3.4 mm). Twenty-two patients with endometrial thickness >10 mm or nonhomogeneous pattern and ten patients with metrorrhagia underwent hysteroscopy: the most frequent finding was the combination of endometrial hypotrophy, floating surface, and chicken-wire vascular pattern aspect (14 cases, 43.7%). Histologic findings showed no case of complex hyperplasia.

Conclusion

UPA is a safe, effective and assured method to decrease symptoms, reduce the need for surgery in premenopausal women suitable for the treatment.

Keywords:

• Hysteroscopy
• metrorrhagia
• selective progesterone receptor modulator
• ulipristal acetate
• uterine fibroids

Declaration of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).