Aim: Fibroid is said to be one of the causes of pain in the pelvic area and infertility amongst women of childbearing ages. The aim of this study was to determine fibroid distribution by age group among women of childbearing age in South Western Nigeria.

Methods: A total of 500 uterine samples selected randomly from women of childbearing ages diagnosed with fibroids in some hospitals in South West Nigeria were used in this study. All patients had maternal and paternal origins of Western Nigeria. They were grouped according to age and year of diagnosis of fibroids. The tissues were processed by the paraffin wax technique and sections cut at 4μ, stained with heamatoxylin and eosin and examined with a light microscope.

Results: Four patients were found to have fibroids in the 16-25 years age group, 150 were in the 26-30 age group, 250 were in the 36-45 age group, while 96 were above 45 years of age. There is a gradual rise in the incidence of fibroids at 25years followed by a gradual decline beginning from 45 years of age.

Conclusion: The peak age group for fibroids in South Western Nigeria seems to be from 36 to 45 years.

 

Key Words: Fibriod, infertility, Childbearing age