Fibroids in African American Women Are Different

The summit was an excellent event that provided great information for researchers, doctors and the general public who are interested in fibroid treatment, pain management, causes and cures.


While, to date, detailed information regarding the presentations at the summit is not available via Internet, I believe plans may be in the works for Howard University's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology to make this information available.  For the agenda, click here and scroll down. 


The information below is based on a presentation provided by James H. Segars, MD.  Dr. Segars is Head of the Unit on Reproduction Endocrinology and Infertility at the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health


AA = African American
CC = Caucasian


What has been learned in the past 2 - 3 years (race related and general information):

• AA women are 3 times more likely to suffer from fibroids than CC women.
• The symptoms in AA women are more severe than in CC women.
• AA women don't get relief from fibroids during menopause as do CC women; fibroids continue to grow.
• An enzyme called aromatase is much higher in AA women than CC women.  It was stated that AA women may be able to use aromatase inhibitors to reduce fibroid size.  Discuss with your doctor or health care provider.
• Hysterectomies due to fibroids are much more common in AA women than CC women.
• For AA women, the link that genes are responsible for familial causes of fibroids has not been made.
• Vitamin D3 and vitamin A deficiencies were mentioned as a possible causes of fibroids.

In general, 

• Fibroids are uterine cells that got the wrong message.
• Not all fibroids are the same and not all fibroids behave the same.
• Fibroids sometimes shrink, but the reason for this is unknown.
• Fibroids can grow to a very large size, but do not metastasize.
• Fibroids have different rates of growth.

As always contact your health care provider (whomever that may be) regarding your own personal and unique health concerns.

Disclaimer:  Howard University College of Medicine/Howard University Hospital, and their staffs, and the National Institutes of Health and staff, and the presenters, and the blogger for "Sorry But I Had To Scream" are not responsible for injury or illness resulting form the use of medications or modalities discussed during this educational activity.