HEALTHY REASONING: Black Women And Fibroids

By Allan Bucka Jones
PRIDE Health Columnist

Black women and women of colour, have a higher incidence of fibroids than white women. It has been found that the darker the skin colour, the more prone a woman will be to developing fibroids.

Fibroids are growth or tumors in the wall of the uterus or womb. They are usually non-cancerous or benign. However about 0.5% of women have fibroids which are cancerous or malignant. Having fibroids does not increase the risk of developing a cancerous fibroid. It also does not increase a woman’s chances of getting other forms of cancer in the uterus.

Fibroids can cause significant discomfort to women. It can be as small as an apple seed or as big as a grapefruit. In some cases they can even become larger.

About 20% to 80% of women develop fibroids by the time they reach age 50. In black women, at around age 30, approximately 30% of women will have fibroids, and at age 45, about 45% will have fibroids. Many women have fibroids and do not know, because they are too small to cause a problem.

It is not known what causes fibroids. Researchers think more than one factor can play a role. It is known that hormonal levels play a role, primarily estrogen and progesterone. Also, genetics play a big role, and it is well documented that fibroids runs in families.

If a woman has a sister, mother, aunt or grandmother who have, or had fibroids, then there is a greater possibility that the woman will also develop fibroids. The risk is three times greater than if you did not have a family member with the condition. As a woman gets older the risk of fibroids increases. It is not commonly found in women below 25 years of age, and, at the start of menopause, fibroids usually shrink.

Eating red meat is linked with a higher risk of fibroids. The recommendation is to eat more green vegetables and eliminate red meat from your diet. Women who are overweight, have a two to three times greater than average risk of developing fibroids.

Here are some of the things a woman with fibroids have to deal with. Excessive bleeding during long periods, lasting seven or more days; pelvic pressure or pain; frequent urination; constipation; enlargement of the lower abdomen; painful sex; complications during pregnancy and labour; low blood iron levels; tiredness; leg pain and lower back pain.

Once a woman starts having symptoms associated with fibroids, it is a sign that treatment should be considered. There are two main approaches for treating fibroids, one approach is called “medical” and the other “surgical”.

In the “medical” approach the doctor may suggest taking medication. The approach is to use medication to control pain, replace lost iron, shrink the fibroids and reduce blood loss.

In the “surgical” approach, there is a conservative and final method. The conservative method is used for younger people who want to preserve their uterus and plan to have children. The fibroids are removed and the uterus left in place. The final method involves removing the entire uterus or womb. With this technique, where the entire uterus is removed, a woman’s child bearing days are over.

In treatments where the fibroids are removed and the uterus is left in place, the fibroids can come back, and when they come back, they are usually more aggressive. This is so especially in younger women, who produce high volumes of hormones.

Fibroids are a reality for many black women, and can cause great discomfort. Happily the discomfort can be eliminated or lessened, by the woman making a decision to do something about it.

If you have symptoms suggesting fibroids are present, talk to your family doctor.

Allan Bucka Jones is a Health Promoter and Broadcaster. You can contact Allan Bucka Jones at allan@jonesandjones.ca.