Beyond benign: The global burden of fibroids
Date: Thursday 10 July 2025
Time: 14:00-15:30 UTC
Description:
Uterine fibroids are one of the most common yet overlooked challenges in women's health, affecting up to 70% of women by the time they reach menopause. Though generally classified as benign, fibroids can lead to serious health issues including infertility, miscarriage, early labour, postpartum haemorrhage and chronic anaemia caused by heavy menstrual bleeding. They can also disrupt bladder, bowel and sexual function and in rare cases, progress to malignancy.
Fibroids generally affect women during their reproductive years but their impact can extend well beyond, depending on their size and location. Despite their prevalence and potential severity, fibroids remain underdiagnosed, undertreated and underdiscussed. This is especially true for populations where the burden of disease is highest. This includes African women where health disparities contribute to a higher incidence of around 80%.
In recognition of Fibroids Awareness Month this July, FIGO brings together leading experts in this webinar to present the latest global data on fibroids prevalence, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. Designed for doctors, midwives and nurses, this session will provide practical, up-to-date knowledge to improve care and outcomes for people living with fibroids worldwide.
This webinar is led by the FIGO Committee on Minimal Access Surgery in collaboration with the FIGO Committee on Menstrual Disorders and Related Health Impacts, the FIGO Division on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Wellbeing and the FIGO Committee on Childbirth and PPH.
Language: English with live interpretation in French and Spanish.
Moderator
Prof Ivo Meinhold-Heerlein, Chair, FIGO Committee on Minimal Access Surgery, Germany
Speakers
Mapping the fibroids landscape: Epidemiology, pathogenesis and classification
Prof Malcolm Munro, Associate Member, FIGO Committee on Menstrual Disorders and Related Health Impacts, United States
Hormones and more: Current medical treatments for fibroids
Dr Ivonne Diaz Yamal, Division Director, FIGO Division on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Wellbeing, Colombia
Knife or not: Surgical decision-making in fibroids management
Dr Joseph Njagi, Committee Member, FIGO Committee on Minimal Access Surgery, Kenya
Conservative or progressive: Image-guided therapies in fibroids care
Prof Philippe Descamps, Past Vice President of FIGO, France
Complex care: Navigating pregnancy with fibroids
Prof Diana Ramašauskaitė, Committee Member, FIGO Committee on Childbirth and PPH, Lithuania