Study of Environment, Lifestyle and Fibroids SNP Data

The goal of the Study of Environment, Lifestyle & Fibroids (SELF) is to identify risk factors for uterine fibroid development. It is the first study to identify incident cases based on ultrasound screening. We enrolled a cohort of 1693 women who self-identified as Black or African American, ages 23-35, from the Detroit, Michigan area. Women with a prior diagnosis of fibroids were not eligible. Participants were screened for fibroids with ultrasound at enrollment, and follow-up ultrasounds occurred approximately every 20 months to identify new fibroids. Fibroids that were detected at enrollment and those that arose during follow up were monitored at subsequent visits for fibroid growth. We collected risk factor and symptom data, physical measurements, as well as blood, urine, and vaginal swab specimens at enrollment and follow-up visits.The study was designed to test three primary hypotheses:Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for fibroid incidence and/or growth.Reproductive tract infections can increase risk of fibroid development.Genotypic variation in African ancestry may influence fibroid development directly, or through interaction with life-course risk factors.In addition, we collected extensive information to examine other exposures of interest, and our extra specimens can be used to test new hypotheses in the future.With this first prospective study of fibroid development, we aim to identify new preventative factors that could directly benefit women. We anticipate that the detailed data on fibroid development can be used to help design new interval treatment strategies to limit fibroid growth and thus reduce the need for the invasive treatments that remain the standard of care when first-line treatments fail.]]>
Inclusion Criteria:Women who self-identify as Black or African AmericanAges 23-35From the Detroit, Michigan area]]>