Epidemiology of medically managed uterine fibroids in France from 2013 to 2017

Santé publique France conducts epidemiological surveillance of certain conditions potentially linked to endocrine disruptors as part of the National Strategy Against Endocrine Disruptors. Uterine fibroids have been identified as a key indicator for surveillance based on the strength of evidence regarding their link to endocrine disruptors (Le Moal J, Sharpe RM, Jorgensen N, Levine H, Jurewicz J, Mendiola J. Toward a multi-country monitoring system of reproductive health in the context of endocrine disrupting chemical exposure. European Journal of Public Health. 2015). Uterine fibroids are benign tumors of the smooth muscle tissue of the uterus. They are the most common non-cancerous tumor among women of childbearing age and represent the leading cause of hysterectomy in France, potentially significantly impairing quality of life (bleeding, chronic debilitating pain) and fertility. This study enabled the development, for the first time in France, of a surveillance indicator for medically managed uterine fibroids (hospitalized and treated with the drug Esmya), the estimation of their incidence from 2013 to 2017, and the analysis of spatio-temporal variations in risk. The data were obtained from the National Health Data System. Among women aged 10 to 54, we observed 178,388 new cases of medically managed uterine fibroids (approximately 35,700 cases/year) with an annual incidence rate over the 2013–2017 period of 17 per 10,000 person-years. The results of spatiotemporal modeling at the departmental level show that the risk of medically managed uterine fibroids increased over the study period. However, these results largely reflect the increased use of the drug Esmya for treating the condition from 2013 to 2017, although a real increase in incidence cannot be ruled out. We observed spatial heterogeneity in risk at the departmental level. In some departments, the relative risk is significantly higher than in mainland France, particularly in Guadeloupe. It is premature at this stage to discuss potential environmental hypotheses based on these initial descriptive results, although an environmental contribution to the risk of uterine fibroids is plausible given the growing body of literature, particularly regarding the link with endocrine disruptors. By design, this study underestimates the actual prevalence of uterine fibroids in France. Nevertheless, it provides an initial quantified estimate of the public health issue related to uterine fibroids, a detailed snapshot of their medical management across France, and the number of cases of uterine fibroids receiving medical care underscores the importance of continuing this work. This is therefore a first step in national surveillance, to be supplemented with other complementary data sources in order to best estimate the actual incidence of uterine fibroids in the population, to further investigate the links with exposure to endocrine disruptors, and ultimately to guide management and prevention measures as well as research on the topic. Santé publique France will continue this surveillance of uterine fibroids as part of its monitoring of the health effects of endocrine disruptors, the scope of which is currently being prioritized.

Author(s): Peyronnet Alexia, Goria Sarah, Chesneau Julie, Le Moal Joëlle

Publishing year: 2022

Pages: 56 p.

Collection: Studies and Surveys

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