african american women's health.
African American Women & Uterine Fibroids: Why More Awareness Is Needed to Overcome This Health Disparity
African American women are nearly three times more likely to develop uterine fibroids and suffer with more severe symptoms like heavy menstrual bleeding, anemia, and pelvic pain. From interfering with daily activities to negatively affecting intimate relationships, fibroids have a much more dramatic impact on black women in comparison to women of other races.
Given these realities, many are left questioning why fibroid research has lagged in the past and what’s being done now to overcome this all-too-common health disparity.
African American women are nearly three times more likely to develop uterine fibroids and suffer with more severe symptoms like heavy menstrual bleeding, anemia, and pelvic pain. From interfering with daily activities to negatively affecting intimate relationships, fibroids have a much more dramatic impact on black women in comparison to women of other races.
Given these realities, many are left questioning why fibroid research has lagged in the past and what’s being done now to overcome this all-too-common health disparity.
Childhood Abuse May Increase Risk of Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids is a condition that’s often linked to several adult-related risk factors such as increasing age, low vitamin D levels, and high blood pressure. But could the risk for developing these noncancerous growths start well before adulthood? According to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, women who had a history of childhood abuse were also more likely to have uterine fibroids.
Uterine fibroids is a condition that’s often linked to several adult-related risk factors such as increasing age, low vitamin D levels, and high blood pressure. But could the risk for developing these noncancerous growths start well before adulthood? According to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, women who had a history of childhood abuse were also more likely to have uterine fibroids.
Who Am I Without My Uterus?
A uterus can embody many things. For some women, it provides a sense of self, gender identity, and sexual prowess. For others, it signifies fertility and can even dictate a woman’s cultural desirability. And still, hysterectomy continues to be one of the most common gynecological surgeries performed worldwide. But women are speaking out. Stories of psychological, social, and cultural stigmas experienced by hysterectomized women are surfacing—many of which reveal the residual costs that have left some to question who they are now and how they can relate to the world around them post-hysterectomy.
A uterus can embody many things. For some women, it provides a sense of self, gender identity, and sexual prowess. For others, it signifies fertility and can even dictate a woman’s cultural desirability. And still, hysterectomy continues to be one of the most common gynecological surgeries performed worldwide. But women are speaking out. Stories of psychological, social, and cultural stigmas experienced by hysterectomized women are surfacing—many of which reveal the residual costs that have left some to question who they are now and how they can relate to the world around them post-hysterectomy.
