Infographics

Women's Reproductive Health: Focus on Fibroids

Health Equity / Maternal and Child Health

Published on: December 14, 2023.

More than 70%

of US women will experience uterine fibroids by 50 years old.

About this Data Insights

More than 70% of US women will experience uterine fibroids by age 50. Of those impacted, there is a disproportionate effect on Black women, who are roughly three times more likely to be diagnosed than White women. Fibroids can negatively influence several aspects of life with few long-term treatment options. This infographic explores the health and economic burden of uterine fibroids, treatment options, and solutions to address fibroids, from improving awareness to expanding access to care.

NIHCM uses the exact terminology utilized by the researchers cited here to describe their study participants.

Citations

Intro:

Reproductive Health Definition: World Health Organization, Reproductive health in the Western Pacific, 2023
Endometriosis Definition: Medline Plus, Endometriosis, 2022
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Medline Plus, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, 2022
Interstitial Cystitis: Centers for Disease Control, 2018
Gynecologic Cancer: Cancer for Disease Control and Prevention, Gynecologic Cancer, 2023
Uterine Fibroid Definition: Mayo Clinic, Uterine fibroids, 2022

Prevalence of Common Reproductive Issues:

Endometriosis: Office on Women’s Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Endometriosis, 2023
PCOS: Endocrine Society, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, 2022
IC: Interstitial Cystitis Association, Who Gets IC?, 2023
Gynecologic Cancer: Yale Medicine, Gynecologic Cancers, 2023
Uterine Fibroids: KE Hartmann et al., Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Management of Uterine Fibroids, 2017
70% of women worldwide are affected: USA Fibroid Centers, How Common Are Fibroids?, 2021
- 80% of Black women & 70% of White women: Donna Day Baird, American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, High cumulative incidence of uterine leiomyoma in black and white women: ultrasound evidence, 2003

Fibroid Risk Factors:

Age: Office on Women’s Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Uterine Fibroids, 2023

Family History: Office on Women’s Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, Uterine Fibroids, 2023
- This is an area of developing research.

Race & Ethnicity: Beata Mostafavi, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Understanding Racial Disparities for Women with Uterine Fibroids, 2020
- More severe symptoms: Elizabeth A Steward et al., Journal of Women’s Health, The Burden of Uterine Fibroids for African-American Women: Results of a National Survey, 2013
Obesity: American Fibroid Centers, Can Weight Gan Cause Fibroids to Grow, 2021
- This is an area of developing research.
Dietary Habits: Cleveland Clinic, Can Certain Foods Reduce Uterine Fibroids?, 2022
- This is an area of developing research.

Fibroid Symptoms:

25-50% of women are symptomatic:
- Source 1: Elizabeth Stewart et al., Nature Reviews Disease Primers, Uterine Fibroids, 2016
- Source 2: Erica Marsh et al., Journal of Women’s Health, Burden, Prevalence, and Treatment of Uterine Fibroids: A Survey of U.S. Women, 2018
Symptoms: Zimmermann A, Bernuit D, Gerlinger C, Schaefers M, Geppert K. Prevalence, symptoms and management of uterine fibroids: an international internet-based survey of 21,746 women. BMC Womens Health. 2012

Fibroid Treatment:

Different types of fibroids: UCLA Health, What are fibroids?, 2023

Percent of women who receive a hysterectomy and alternative treatments: Marsh EE, Al-Hendy A, Kappus D, Galitsky A, Stewart EA, Kerolous M. Burden, Prevalence, and Treatment of Uterine Fibroids: A Survey of U.S. Women. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2018
Percentage of Treatments Stewart EA, Laughlin-Tommaso SK, Catherino WH, Lalitkumar S, Gupta D, Vollenhoven B. Uterine fibroids. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2016

Solutions:

Annual Cost of Fibroids to the US: Eden R Cardozo et al., American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, The Estimated Annual Cost of Uterine Leiomyomata in the United States, 2011

Education and Awareness:

Policymakers and medical education: Aninye IO, Laitner MH. Uterine Fibroids: Assessing Unmet Needs from Bench to Bedside. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2021
Educating women: Marsh EE, Al-Hendy A, Kappus D, Galitsky A, Stewart EA, Kerolous M. Burden, Prevalence, and Treatment of Uterine Fibroids: A Survey of U.S. Women. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2018

Improving Diagnosis:

Improve Diagnosis and Imaging: Aninye IO, Laitner MH. Uterine Fibroids: Assessing Unmet Needs from Bench to Bedside. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2021
Reduce Misdiagnosis: NYU Langone Health, Misdiagnosed as Cancer, Woman Has Watermelon-Sized Uterine Fibroid Removed, 2023

Need More Research, Expand Access to Care, Improve Treatment & Management, & Personalized Patient Care: Aninye IO, Laitner MH. Uterine Fibroids: Assessing Unmet Needs from Bench to Bedside. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2021

This infographic was reviewed by Anissa I. Vines, MS, PhD, Associate Professor, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health.