Have you heard about fibroids? A condition that affects women primarily during their reproductive years. Chances are likely that you or someone you know and care about have been affected by them.
What are Fibroids?
Fibroids are noncancerous tumors that grow in the uterus and in some cases outside of the uterus. Many women are unaware that they have fibroids, and diagnosis may not come for several years. Women with fibroids may or may not have symptoms. The presence or absence of symptoms contributes to the delay in a definitive fibroid diagnosis. When the fibroids are symptomatic, women can experience heavy menstrual periods, moderate to severe pelvic pain, back pain, fatigue, reproductive issues, increased urinary frequency, and anemia. Many of these symptoms are characteristic of other reproductive health issues including endometriosis and adenomyosis, which may make diagnosing fibroids more difficult. Additionally, many women are led to believe that painful periods just come with the territory of being a woman but that is not true. Extremely painful periods with heavy bleeding are not normal and indicate the need to see a doctor to determine the cause. Education for girls and women about what is healthy and not healthy when it comes to periods is necessary. Additionally, actively discouraging shameful feelings and views surrounding periods is also necessary to help women and girls view reproductive health in positive and healthy ways that can lead them to achieving better overall health.
Who is affected and at risk?
According to the Society for Women’s Health Research, it is estimated that around 26 million women and girls between the ages of 15 and 50 years old are affected by fibroids in the United States. Although fibroids affect women of a variety of races and ethnicities, more black women are affected by them than white women. In fact, some studies have found that black women are twice as likely to develop fibroids than Hispanic women and four times more likely to have them than white women (Aninye et al., 2021). There are several factors for the greater impact upon black women, but the most significant is likely the result of environmental factors experienced by black women. They are often exposed to pollutants in their neighborhoods due to how close they are to factories and industries that may emit substances into the air or water. Other sources of exposure are from products used exclusively by black women (e.g., beauty products), and from exposure to various products and chemicals in the places where they work.
Additional factors that increase a woman’s risk for fibroids are:
- Family history (e.g., mother or sister who had fibroids)
- Race (Black women are more likely to develop fibroids at younger ages, and they tend to be more complex)
- Unhealthy lifestyle—diet rich in red meat, fewer vegetables and fruit, vitamin D deficiency, and alcohol consumption
Is treatment available?
Yes, treatment options are available and have been proven to be effective. The only cure for fibroids currently is a hysterectomy. Other treatment options include medications (e.g., pain relievers and hormone treatments) and surgical procedures (e.g., uterine fibroid embolization, endometrial ablation) that are less invasive than a hysterectomy. However, fibroids can grow back later following these procedures.
So how can they be prevented?
Fibroids cannot be prevented, but women can take steps to reduce their risk of developing fibroids. They can move to improve their diets, maintain a healthy weight, get more exercise, lower stress levels, add vitamin D, reduce alcohol consumption, and discuss the options with their doctors (Fibroid Institute Texas, 2023).
Need more information about fibroids? Check out these organizations that provide excellent resources about fibroids.
References
Aninye, I. O., Laitner, M. H., and Society for Women’s Health Research Uterine Fibroids Working Group. (2021). Uterine fibroids: assessing unmet needs from bench to bedside. Journal of Women’s Health, 30. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2021.0280
Fibroid Institute Texas. (2023 October 25). Can uterine fibroids be prevented? Retrieved July 2025 from https://www.fibroidfree.com/fibroids/can-uterine-fibroids-be-prevented/
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