Do symptomatic endometriosis and uterine fibroids appear together?

OBJECTIVES: Endometriosis and uterine fibroids are common gynecological disorders in fertile women. It has been suggested that these two disorders may be associated with each other. In this study, we tested whether this connection exists. In addition, we wanted to evaluate whether they both affect fertility independently of each other. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The prevalence of endometriosis and uterine fibroids was investigated in three groups of patients: Symptomatic patients requiring surgery either for endometriosis (n=182), or for uterine fibroids (n=240) and asymptomatic patients undergoing laparoscopic sterilization (n=183). The prevalences were examined in three age groups: 35–39 yrs, 40–44 yrs and ≥ 45 yrs. The significance of both diagnoses on fertility was assessed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Uterine fibroids were detected in 25.8% (47/182) of patients with endometriosis. Endometriosis was detected in 19.6% (47/240) of patients with uterine fibroids. 5.5% (10/183) women undergoing sterilization had endometriosis and 19.3% (17/183) had uterine fibroids. Both uterine fibroids and endometriosis were, independently of each other, related to subfertility (OR, 95% CI: 3.8, 2.3–6.5; 6.8, 4.0–11.6, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that symptomatic endometriosis appears together with symptomatic uterine fibroids. Both diseases seem to decrease female fertility independently of each other.