Bipedalism and the dawn of uterine fibroids.

The high prevalence and burden of uterine fibroids in women raises questions about the origin of these benign growths. Here, we propose that fibroids should be understood in the context of human evolution, specifically the advent of bipedal locomotion in the hominin lineage. Over the ≥7 million years since our arboreal ancestors left their trees, skeletal adaptations ensued, affecting the pelvis, limbs, hands, and feet.

History of uterine artery occlusion and subsequent pregnancy.

Objective: During mature placenta formation, select fetal trophoblasts invade maternal decidual arterioles and junctional zone arteries and change them into low-resistance uteroplacental arteries. Consequently, physicians performing vascular procedures that occlude the uterine arteries should understand their effects on miscarriage rates, the various toxemias of pregnancy, gross and microscopic placental anatomy, and invasive placentation. Thus, the objective of this article is to review the effects of vascular occlusion on pregnancy.

Are fibroids that become endocavitary after uterine artery embolization necessarily a complication?

Objective: This commentary deals with the study by Verma et al. discussing submucosal and endocavitary fibroids after uterine artery embolization (UAE).

Conclusion: UAE can infarct fibroids.

Uterine artery occlusion: what is the evidence?

Symptomatic uterine fibroids are a relatively common gynecologic condition. In the past, fibroids were exclusively treated by myomectomy and/or hysterectomy. With the advent of uterine artery embolization or uterine artery occlusion, there now exist minimally invasive approaches to fibroid therapy especially for women in whom surgery is contraindicated or for those who wish to retain their uterus and possibly fertility.

Childbirth and myoma treatment by uterine artery occlusion: do they share a common biology?

When the uterine arteries are bilaterally occluded, either by uterine artery embolization or by laparoscopic obstruction, women with myomas experience symptomatic relief. After the uterine arteries are occluded, most blood stops flowing in myometrial arteries and veins, and the uterus becomes ischemic. It is postulated that myomas are killed by the same process that kills trophoblasts: transient uterine ischemia.