Gene Mutations Identified in Uterine Fibroids, University of Helsinki Study

Scientists report an advance in the genetics of uterine fibroids, the most common noncancerous tumors in women of childbearing age. Uterine fibroids, which can cause abnormal bleeding, abdominal pain and discomfort, occur in 60 percent of women by the age 45. Fibroids are also a major cause of infertility and the most common reason for hysterectomy. Despite their importance, little has been known about what causes these tumors to develop. In this study, researchers at the University of Helsinki in Finland examined the genetics of 18 fibroid tumors and found that as many as 70 percent of them had specific mutations in a gene called MED12.