Black women with a family history of uterine fibroids face a higher risk of developing the condition themselves, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open. The research, which focused on Black and African American women in Detroit, found that maternal history of fibroids was associated with both increased incidence and growth of fibroids in daughters.
The study, led by researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, utilized ultrasound data to track fibroid development in 1,610 Black and African American women aged 23 to 35 over a five-year period. Women whose mothers had been diagnosed with fibroids showed a 21% higher risk of developing fibroids themselves compared to those without a maternal history.The risk was even more pronounced when mothers were diagnosed at a younger age. Women whose mothers were diagnosed between ages 20-29 had a 56% higher risk of developing fibroids.
“While we confirmed that earlier maternal diagnosis had the strongest association with fibroid incidence, we were surprised that increased fibroid growth was associated with maternal history, but not maternal age at diagnosis,” said Dr. Quaker Harmon, the study’s corresponding author.
The research highlights the understudied nature of uterine fibroids, particularly in Black women who experience earlier onset of the condition compared to white women. Dr. Mya Roberson, in an accompanying editorial, emphasized that the study “offers a critical example of how structural racism intersects with health services delivery that affects the fundamental epidemiologic understanding of a medical condition disproportionately experienced by Black women.”
The findings suggest that clinicians should consider discussing fibroid symptoms proactively with patients, especially those with a family history of the condition.
See “Ultrasound shows ties between uterine fibroid risk, family history” (April 3, 2024)
