A large study examining nearly 2 million patients has revealed striking disparities in uterine fibroid diagnosis rates across racial and ethnic groups, with Black women facing diagnosis rates approximately three times higher than their White counterparts.
Research scientist Susanna Mitro from Kaiser Permanente Division of Research discussed findings that also showed elevated rates among Hispanic patients and notable differences within Asian populations. South Asian patients had 71% higher diagnosis rates compared to White patients, while East Asian patients showed 47% higher rates and Southeast Asian patients 29% higher rates.
The research fills an important gap since previous studies largely focused on Black and White populations while overlooking Asian ethnicities. Mitro emphasized the substantial variability within Asian subgroups, highlighting the need to avoid treating Asian populations as monolithic in medical research.
The study did not aim to explain causes behind these disparities but pointed to several contributing factors including true differences in fibroid prevalence, social and lifestyle influences, and patterns in healthcare utilization. Cultural perceptions of symptoms like heavy menstrual bleeding and differences in when individuals seek medical care may influence whether fibroids get diagnosed.
An additional finding showed Asian patients were less likely to have recorded fibroid symptoms at diagnosis, potentially reflecting differences in symptom perception, communication with clinicians, or medical documentation practices.
Co-author Eve Zaritsky emphasized that clinicians must become aware of implicit bias and systemic issues leading to care disparities, though researchers clarified the study doesn’t claim clinical bias caused these diagnostic differences.
See: “Susanna Mitro, PhD, reveals ethnic disparities in uterine fibroid diagnosis” (April 10, 2025)
