Uterine Fibroids cause more Health Issues in African American Women

A recent study that examined a national survey found that African American women were more likely to have uterine fibroids. These new findings, reported via a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Int., publishers, discusses how the problem has a 3-fold higher incidence of uterine fibroids and tend to have them at an earlier age, as well.

Study authors Elizabeth Stewart, MD, Wanda Nicholson, MD, MPH, MBA, Linda Bradley, MD and Bijan Borah, PhD, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Medical school, Rochester, MN, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill and Cleveland Clinic, OH, African American women are more likely to face this problem than other women with uterine fibroids.

However, researchers note that early intervention in order to reduce the high risk of hysterectomy and preserve fertility can help prevent the health issue, via the editorial "Uterine Fiborid: The Burden Borne by African American Women.

"Uterine fibroids are a major source of morbidity for reproductive-aged women, and this is especially true for African American women," says Susan G. Kornstein, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Journal of Women's Health, Executive Director of the Virginia Commonwealth University Institute for Women's Health, Richmond, VA, and President of the Academy of Women's Health.

More information regarding the study can be found via the Journal of Women's Health. 

Fibroids are muscular tumors that grow in the wal of the uterus. Another medical term for fibroids is "leiomyoma" or just 'myoma. Fibroids are almost always benign, but sometimes they can be dangerous. It's important to get them chekc out by a health care provider.