Uterine fibroids affect Black women at rates two to three times higher than white women, creating one of the most significant gynecological health disparities in America. Yet this devastating gap remains largely invisible in mainstream medical conversations despite profoundly affecting millions of lives.
The disparity extends beyond prevalence. Black women develop more fibroids, larger fibroids, and fibroids at earlier ages than their white counterparts. This pattern results from complex interactions between genetic factors, hormonal differences, systemic healthcare disparities, and environmental exposures.
Healthcare providers frequently dismiss or minimize severe menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain in Black women, attributing classic fibroid symptoms to other causes rather than ordering appropriate imaging. This diagnostic delay means Black women often develop larger, more symptomatic fibroids requiring aggressive treatment before receiving proper diagnosis. Research shows that Black women’s pain complaints are systematically taken less seriously compared to identical complaints from white women.
Access to preventive care compounds the problem. Lower rates of preventive gynecological care in Black communities mean fibroids go undiagnosed until they cause severe bleeding leading to anemia or debilitating pain. By then, more aggressive intervention becomes necessary.
Even after diagnosis, treatment disparities persist. Black women receive less aggressive fibroid treatment than white women with identical severity and are less likely to be offered minimally invasive options. Their preferences and concerns about treatment receive less priority in clinical decision-making.
Fertility consequences are particularly devastating since Black women develop fibroids during crucial reproductive years, compounding infertility risks with lower access to fertility treatment.
See: “Why fibroids hit Black women harder than anyone else” (February 11, 2026)
