Breaking the Silence.
The Disproportionate Impact of Uterine Fibroids on Black Women’s Health and Wellbeing
Uterine fibroids, also known as leiomyomas, are non-cancerous growths in the uterus that affect many women, often during their reproductive years. These fibroids vary in type, location and impact and can range from being asymptomatic to causing significant health and fertility issues.
Uterine fibroids disproportionately affect Black women, with research showing that they experience higher rates, more severe symptoms and earlier onset compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Studies indicate that approximately 60-80% of Black women will develop fibroids by the age of 50, a strikingly higher percentage than their White counterparts, where the incidence is typically around 30-50%. This stark disparity in prevalence is just one of the ways fibroids uniquely impact Black women’s health.
Several studies have highlighted the racial disparities in the occurrence and severity of fibroids in Black women.…
