Assessment of Lifestyle Factors and Their Association with Uterine Fibroids in Female Patients

Abstract

Background: Uterine fibroids are a common gynecological condition affecting women of reproductive age, with significant implications for quality of life and healthcare costs. This study aimed to investigate the association between lifestyle factors and the severity of uterine fibroid symptoms among female patients in a resource-limited setting.

Methods and Materials: Researchers performed a descriptive cross-sectional study at the Radiology Department of MTI Mardan Medical Complex in Mardan over a six-month period. They recruited 177 participants through non-probability convenience sampling. Information was gathered using a structured questionnaire and later verified by pelvic ultrasound. Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS version 23, and the chi-square test examined links between symptom severity and lifestyle variables.

Results: Statistical analysis revealed that marital status was significantly correlated with symptom severity (p=.02), with married women reporting stronger symptoms. In contrast, body-mass index, educational attainment, contraceptive use, exercise frequency, dietary habits, and perceived stress were not statistically associated with symptom severity. Most respondents indicated moderate stress, engaged in limited physical activity, and had fibroid presence confirmed by ultrasound.

Conclusion: Marital status emerged as a considerable predictor of how severely women experience symptoms caused by uterine fibroids. Such a link suggests that care providers should tailor interventions not only to clinical indicators but also to a patients social context. The observation also points for research that unpacks the cultural and economic pathways through which marital status may affect health in communities with limited medical resources.