Progesterone and estrogen signaling in uterine fibroids: A tale of two interconnected pathways.

Uterine fibroids are monoclonal tumors occurring in females of reproductive age. The etiology of UFs is still not completely known, but they arise from a single mutation in smooth muscle cells of the uterus. These are hormone-dependent tumors, as they usually shrink after menopause. Surgical treatment options like hysterectomy and myomectomy are considered definitive treatment for UFs, but they are very costly and not acceptable for all females. Various herbal and synthetic drugs are used for the management of UFs, but none of them can completely resolve fibroids. They only reduce the symptoms associated with UF; also, the associated side effects make them unfit for use. Currently, natural compounds along with acupuncture have been investigated as therapies for UF; however, their clinical studies are limited. Therefore, there is a need for a drug that could target various signaling pathways in UF. For that, there is a need to understand the complete pathology of UF. This review focuses on the estrogen and progesterone signaling pathways associated with UFs. This will help in understanding the pathology of UFs. By targeting multiple signaling pathways, we can potentially refine and improve the management strategies for uterine fibroids.