Can Statin Drugs Prevent Fibroids? One Study Says Maybe

The class of drugs known as statins may help prevent uterine fibroids and fibroid pain.

It is estimated that up to 70 percent of white women and 90 percent of black women will suffer from uterine fibroids by the time they are 50 years old.³ 

And, while not every woman with fibroids suffers from symptoms of fibroids, between 30 percent and 50 percent of women who develop uterine fibroids will seek a cure for their fibroid pain and discomfort. As a result, finding effective fibroid treatment is an important goal.

In addition, finding a nonsurgical option for treating symptoms of fibroids is particularly essential. Surgery for uterine fibroids usually consists of a hysterectomy. About 200,000-400,000 women undergo this procedure every year in the U.S. for their fibroid pain.^3,4 Removing the uterus completely might initially sound like a good idea. However, since the procedure removes a woman’s fertility and increases her risk of problems such as infections, bladder injury,⁵  and early onset of menopause,⁶ avoiding this treatment for large fibroids in the uterus can be beneficial to patients.

While minimally invasive treatment options, such as uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), are available, one study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology is pointing to the possibility of preventing fibroids through the use of medication.

In particular, taking statins has been associated with a reduction in uterine fibroid development and with a reduction in the severity of fibroid pain.

Statins are a commonly used set of drugs intended to lower cholesterol. Between 2011 and 2012, the number of adults who had used statins within the last 30 days was 27.9 percent, an increase of 8 percent over the rates a decade ago.¹

Though statins are intended to prevent cardiovascular disease, researchers at the University of Texas recently examined the impact of statin on the development of uterine fibroids and the symptoms of fibroids. What they found may be a promising new step in the fight against large fibroids in the uterus.

The researchers’ efforts focused on women who met three criteria. Each was:

The women, who numbered more than 190,000, were broken into two groups: Those who had been diagnosed with uterine fibroids and those who had not. About a third were in the first group, and two thirds in the latter group.

When researchers examined the relationship between statin use and the development of fibroids in the uterus among these women, what they found was that those who had taken statins had a lower risk of developing uterine fibroids.² In addition, those who did develop fibroids had fewer symptoms of fibroids (i.e. heavy bleeding, anemia, pelvic pain) than their statin-free counterparts and fewer of them required surgical treatment of large fibroids in the uterus.

This study was implemented based on other studies that indicate statins might be able to slow down the replication of fibroid cells and even contribute to the death of fibroid cells.²  The study does not settle any questions regarding how exactly statins work to reduce fibroid pain and development. Nor does it conclusively find that statins prevent uterine fibroids. However, what it does do is point researchers toward a promising new possibility that, with further research, might one day be able to provide relief to women looking to avoid or alleviate uterine fibroids.

The doctors at Viva Eve have years of experience in the treatment of both uterine fibroids and adenomyosis through Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE). 

At VIVA EVE we are committed to providing high-quality, personalized care for each and every patient we see. We will partner with you to determine the best way to treat your problematic fibroids or adenomyosis.