The Incidence of Fibromyoma and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Women in Trinidad (2000-2003)

Problem statement: Before this study was done there were no reports of similar studies in Trinidad whereas similar study had been reported from other parts of the World including the Caribbean sub-region. The present study was thus designed to investigate the incidence and demographics of leiomyomata and polycystic ovary syndrome in women in two health institutions in Trinidad during the period from 2000-2003, inclusive. The study also sought to establish the prevalence of the established risk factors viz. age, ethnicity, parity and gravidity and to examine their relationship with the two disease conditions. Approach: The study population included only women who were diagnosed with or treated for these conditions at the Mt. Hope Medical Science Complex and San Fernando General Hospital in Trinidad and Tobago during the specified period. Results: The most common presenting complaints were vaginal bleeding and colicky lower abdominal pain for fibroids and polycystic ovarian syndrome respectively. The majority of the fibroid cases were aged between 40 and 49 years. Similarly most of the patients with polycystic ovary were aged between 20 and 29 years. Hysterectomy was the most frequent surgical intervention. Prior to this, patients were placed on haematinics for anaemia and analgesics for pain. Conclusion: The present study has provided the database that could be harnessed in improving the health care delivery system for the population of Trinidad in different ways as discussed in the text of the article.