Uterine fibroids affect most women in the United States by midlife, yet the condition remains understudied and underfunded, with consequences that fall disproportionately on Black women. A report from Duke University School of Medicine examines how gaps in research and care have limited treatment options for a disease that shapes health, fertility, and quality of life for millions.
Fibroids affect 70% to 80% of women by age 50, but Black women are more likely to develop them earlier and experience more severe symptoms, including heavy bleeding, pain, and anemia. Despite this burden, fibroids have historically received little attention from medical researchers. “Often the well-being of women is not a huge priority, unfortunately,” said Whitney Robinson, PhD, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Duke. She noted that decision-making about what gets studied has long sidelined conditions that primarily affect women.
The impact extends beyond physical symptoms. “We’re talking about women who are of reproductive age, and they’re very important in their communities, in jobs, in taking care of families,” Robinson said. When symptoms go untreated, fatigue and pain limit women’s ability to work and care for others, compounding social and economic strain.
Research cited in the report shows that hysterectomy remains the most common treatment and is the leading cause of uterus removal in the U.S., with notable racial and regional differences. Black and Hispanic women often experience more severe symptoms but may be undertreated earlier in the care process, leading to major surgery at younger ages. “We see these big racial and regional differences in people getting hysterectomies when they’re pretty young,” Robinson said.
Evan Myers, MD, MPH, noted that aside from hysterectomy, “there isn’t any guarantee that someone isn’t going to need additional treatment at some point,” highlighting the need for better options. Duke researchers argue that closing research gaps is essential to reducing racial health disparities tied to fibroid care.
See: “Filling the Gaps in Uterine Fibroid Research” (March 12, 2025)
