Ulipristal Acetate Effectively Medically Manages Symptomatic Leiomyomatous Uteri

Symptomatic leiomyomatous uteri affect about 30% of women [1]. In the United States, more than 80% of African American and 70% of Caucasian women have leiomyoma by age 50, with an overall incidence of 12.8 per 1,000 woman years [1]. Symptomatic severity disparities are more pronounced than leiomyoma incidence disparities. African Americans women have larger and more numerous leiomyomata occurring up to 15 years earlier than do Caucasian women [1]. Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) and/ or mass symptoms affect about 20 to 40% respectively of women with leiomyomatous uteri [1]. Anemia, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, non-cyclic pelvic pain, and bladder tenesmus contribute to 53.7% of women with leiomyomata perceiving quality of life decrements [2]. Leiomyomata cost the United States up to USD 34 billion annually [1, 3]. While hysterectomy is definitive treatment of symptomatic leiomyomatous uteri, hysterectomy is not the best option for all women, nor will immediate hysterectomy be a guaranteed insurance covered procedure. Therefore, medical management is important.