Michal Ciebiera

Uterine fibroids — why you should choose tailored therapies based on the joint decision of the physician and the patient

Uterine fibroids (UFs) are the most common benign tumors of the myometrium, affecting up to 70% women by age 50. Although many cases remain asymptomatic, symptomatic UFs can significantly reduce quality of life through excessive bleeding, anemia, pelvic pain, infertility, and obstetric complications. Despite the availability of various conservative treatments - including pharmacotherapy, uterine artery embolization, and ultrasound thermoablation - surgical interventions, particularly hysterectomy, remain the dominant approach in many countries. This discrepancy between evidence-based recommendations and routine practice highlights the persistence of a paternalistic model of care, where patients are often excluded from treatment decisions and not informed about alternatives. Emerging concepts such as shared decision making (SDM) and personalized therapy emphasize the need to adapt treatment plans to each woman's clinical profile, reproductive goals, and preferences. SDM fosters trust, better adherence to therapy, and improved acceptance of complications by actively involving patients in choosing their care. The development of modern pharmacological options, like GnRH analogs, further expands possibilities for effective, reversible, fertility-preserving treatments. A paradigm shift toward patient-centered, individualized management is essential to address ethical challenges, reduce unnecessary hysterectomies, and improve outcomes. Implementing SDM and expanding access to conservative therapies require systemic changes in reimbursement, training, and patient education to ensure that care focuses not only on the disease but on the woman as a whole.

Cervical screening during pregnancy — a review of recommendations

Cervical cytology is a vital screening tool used to detect precancerous and cancerous cells in the cervix. The procedure is crucial in preventing cervical cancer by enabling the early detection and treatment of abnormal cells. In the context of pregnancy, cytology remains an essential component of prenatal care. Numerous studies confirmed that cytology was safe for both the mother and the fetus when performed correctly. The interpretation of cytological results during pregnancy requires careful consideration due to physiological changes in the cervix, which may mimic or obscure pathological findings. The review describes physiological changes in cervical cytology during pregnancy, interpretation challenges and the guidelines of international societies in this topic.

Early-Stage and Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer during Pregnancy: Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis and Treatment

In this comprehensive review supported by clinical examples, the authors explore the topic of cervical cancer in pregnancy, with emphasis on potential pre-cancer progression, the possibility of coexisting preinvasive and invasive disease, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy. This manuscript addresses the challenges of managing cervical cancer in pregnant women with a pregnancy-preserving approach, including the importance of screening, the timing of surgery, and the impact of pregnancy on the course of the disease. The first case study illustrates the potential for a benign cervical lesion to transform into a malignant one during pregnancy and the possible coexistence of preinvasive lesions together with early-stage cervical cancer. It also questions the rationale behind the non-treatment of pregnant patients initially diagnosed with CIN 2/3 during pregnancy. The second presented clinical example shows the histologically confirmed response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, resulting in a radiologically diagnosed FIGO stage IIA1 being downgraded to adenocarcinoma in situ in the histology report after surgery performed six weeks postpartum. The treatment of cervical cancer, which is becoming increasingly prevalent among pregnant women, and the necessity for an individualized diagnostic and therapeutic approach represent significant challenges for contemporary medicine. Discrepancies in therapeutic options proposed among centers within the same region lead to the conclusion that there is a need for centralization and unification of evidence-based management in referral centers with both high-level oncological and perinatal care.

Uterine fibroids: current research on novel drug targets and innovative therapeutic strategies

Uterine fibroids, the most common nonmalignant tumors affecting the female genital tract, are a significant medical challenge. This article focuses on the most recent studies that attempted to identify novel non-hormonal therapeutic targets and strategies in UF therapy. This review covers the analysis of the pharmacological and biological mechanisms of the action of natural substances and the role of the microbiome in reference to UFs. This study aimed to determine the potential role of these compounds in UF prevention and therapy. While there are numerous approaches for treating UFs, available drug therapies for disease control have not been optimized yet. This review highlights the biological potential of vitamin D, EGCG and other natural compounds, as well as the microbiome, as promising alternatives in UF management and prevention. Although these substances have been quite well analyzed in this area, we still recommend conducting further studies, particularly randomized ones, in the field of therapy with these compounds or probiotics. Alternatively, as the quality of data continues to improve, we propose the consideration of their integration into clinical practice, in alignment with the patient's preferences and consent.

Evidence-Based Approach for Secondary Prevention of Uterine Fibroids (The ESCAPE Approach)

Uterine fibroids (UFs) are common tumors in women of reproductive age. It is imperative to comprehend UFs’ associated risk factors to facilitate early detection and prevention. Simple relying on surgical/pharmacological treatment of advanced disease is not only highly expensive, but it also deprives patients of good quality of life (QOL). Unfortunately, even if the disease is discovered early, no medical intervention is traditionally initiated until the disease burden becomes high, and only then is surgical intervention performed. Furthermore, after myomectomy, the recurrence rate of UFs is extremely high with the need for additional surgeries and other interventions. This confused approach is invasive and extremely costly with an overall negative impact on women’s health. Secondary prevention is the management of early disease to slow down its progression or even halt it completely. The current approach of watchful observation for early disease is considered a major missed opportunity in the literature. The aim of this article is to present an approach named the ESCAPE (Evidence-Based Approach for Secondary Prevention) of UF management. It comprises simple, inexpensive, and safe steps that can arrest the development of UFs, promote overall reproductive health, decrease the number of unnecessary surgeries, and save billions of health care systems’ dollars worldwide.