Uterine fibroids more severe in black women

A study in the American Journal of obstetrics has shown that there are marked differences in the way uterine
fibroids present in black women and white women.
In black women:

• fibroids tended to be discovered at an earlier age
• they were more likely to have severe disease
• they had more severe menstrual pain and
• they had fewer days between periods

compared to white women.
The participants in the study were women who had at least one sister who had been diagnosed with uterine fibroids. This suggests that race plays and important part in the age at diagnosis and the severity of symptoms arising from uterine fibroids. Researchers are trying to find the genes that may be involved and associated with an increased risk if developing uterine fibroids.