The integrative health status of women with uterine fibroids wishing to maintain fertility: a cross-sectional study based on Levine’s conservation model

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Abstract

Purpose

The increasing incidence of uterine fibroids (UFs) among women who could consider conception presents challenges. This study examined the relationships among fatigue, UF symptom severity, sexual function, anxiety, and loneliness across diverse life conditions and treatment stages in women with UFs wishing to maintain fertility.

Methods

This descriptive correlational study, guided by Levine’s conservation model, included 221 women with UFs hoping to maintain their reproductive potential. Participants were recruited from gynecology-focused online communities, and data were collected through an online survey. The questionnaire gathered information on general and treatment-related characteristics, as well as measures of fatigue, UF symptom severity, sexual function, anxiety, and loneliness. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, the Welch test, and Pearson correlation analysis.

Results

Most participants (91.9%) experienced fatigue, and sexual dysfunction was prevalent (85.5%). Fatigue, sexual function, anxiety, and loneliness levels were significantly intercorrelated ( p<.001), whereas UF symptom severity was only associated with fatigue (r=.51, p<.001) and sexual function (r=–.41, p<.001). Women without specific pregnancy plans exhibited greater anxiety and poorer sexual function than those with plans, and women with low economic status showed poorer outcomes for most variables. Women currently undergoing medical treatment reported the highest UF symptom severity, while those with a longer diagnosis history or not currently receiving treatment exhibited greater anxiety and loneliness.

Conclusion

Women with UFs intending to maintain fertility face multidimensional and interrelated health challenges. Beyond fibroid-focused treatments, clinical nursing and education should integrate physical and psychosocial health indicators while supporting reproductive health.

Related collections

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Author and article information

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Womens Health Nurs

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Womens Health Nurs

Journal ID (publisher-id): WHN

Title: Women's Health Nursing

Publisher: Korean Society of Women Health Nursing

ISSN (Print): 3022-7666

ISSN (Electronic): 3022-8247

Publication date (Print): 31 March 2025

Publication date (Electronic): 28 March 2025

Volume: 31

Issue: 1

Pages: 9-21

Affiliations

[1 ]College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

[2 ]Research Institute of Nursing Science, College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea

Author notes

Corresponding author: ChaeWeon Chung Research Institute of Nursing Science, College of Nursing, Seoul National University, 103 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 03080, Korea Tel: +82-2-740-8482 E-mail: chungcw@ 123456snu.ac.kr

Author information

Hye Moon Kim http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2820-2072

ChaeWeon Chung http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4781-6512

Article

Publisher ID: whn-2025-03-02

DOI: 10.4069/whn.2025.03.02

PMC ID: 12010801

PubMed ID: 40210296

SO-VID: e1908903-a46a-45bf-befb-92e91231de96

License:

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

History

Date received : 15 January 2025

Date revision received : 28 February 2025

Date accepted : 2 March 2025