Leiomyoma simultaneously impair endometrial BMP-2-mediated decidualization and anticoagulant expression through secretion of TGF-β3.
Journal: Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. 2011;96:412-21.
Authors: Sinclair DC, Mastroyannis A, Taylor HS.
Study from: Yale University School of Medicine
Problem: Women with submucous fibroids have decreased fertility, increased miscarriage rates, and heavy menstrual bleeding. Why this happens has not been well understood. The authors tested to see if proteins that interfere with fertility and/or cause heavy bleeding were produced by fibroids.
Study: Sophisticated laboratory tests were performed on fibroids and normal uterine muscle to see if the cells made proteins that could cause infertility or heavy bleeding.
Results: Fibroids make different amounts of proteins than normal uterine muscle and these proteins make it more difficult for a fertilized egg to stick to the uterine lining. Fibroids also make other proteins that interfere with the blood clotting in the uterine lining which causes heavy bleeding.
Dr. Parker’s Comments: This is cutting edge science from the fertility group at Yale. Using techniques from molecular biology, the authors showed that fibroids make proteins that both decrease fertility and increase menstrual bleeding. We knew these effects existed, but now we have a better idea as to why.
