Minority Women's Health

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Uterine Fibroids

Minority Women's Health > African Americans > Health Topics > Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are growths, made up of muscle cells and other tissues that grow in the wall of the uterus (or womb). Fibroids are sometimes called tumors, but they are almost always benign (not cancerous). Fibroids can grow as a single growth or in groups. They can be as small as an apple seed or as big as a grapefruit. Most of the time, fibroids grow in women of childbearing age.

Symptoms of fibroids include:

• heavy bleeding or painful periods
• bleeding between periods
• feeling of fullness in the pelvic area (lower abdomen)
• urinating often
• pain during sex
• lower back pain
• reproductive problems such as infertility, having more than one miscarriage, or having early onset of labor during pregnancy

If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor.

No one knows for sure what causes fibroids. We also don't know what makes them grow or shrink. For some women, fibroids stop growing or shrink after menopause.

African American women are two to three times more likely to get fibroids than women of other groups. Overweight or obese women are at higher risk for fibroids.

Publications

1.   Frequently Asked Questions — Uterine Fibroids — This fact sheet contains information on uterine fibroids, what causes them, who is at risk, symptoms, and treatment options.

   http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/uterine-fibroids.cfm

2.   Uterine Fibroids — This eight-page fact sheet describes uterine fibroids, the most common, non-cancerous tumors in women of reproductive age. The information includes definition, locations, symptoms, causes, groups at risk, diagnosis, treatments, prognosis, and research being done on uterine fibroids.

   http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs_details.cfm?from=&pubs_id=5043

3.   Uterine Fibroids — This web site links to accurate and up-to-date health information about uterine fibroids. It offers information on diagnosis, treatment, symptoms, and more.

   http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/uterinefibroids.html

4.   Uterine Fibroids: A Guide for Patients (Copyright © ASRM) — This easy-to-read booklet explains the causes and types of fibroids and provides a glossary for uterine-related words.

   http://www.asrm.org/Patients/patientbooklets/uterine_fibroids.pdf

5. Uterine Fibroids: Risk Factors (Copyright © NUFF) — African American women have high rates of uterine fibroids. But there are things you can do to reduce your risk. Find out what things put you at risk for uterine fibroids.

   http://www.nuff.org/health_riskfactors.htm

Organizations

1.   Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, HHS
2. American Society for Reproductive Medicine
3. National Uterine Fibroid Foundation

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of December 2007