About 80% of black women will develop fibroids within their lifetime. We are 2 to 3 times more likely than our white counterparts to be diagnosed with fibroids. The reasons for the increased risk in black women are not well understood, but some data suggest that low Vitamin D levels (a deficiency common in black people) and obesity (with black women having higher rates) can increase the likelihood of developing fibroids.
Fibroids can cause many disabling problems, especially during pregnancy. They may increase the risk of:
- Premature labor
- Placenta previa
- Repeat miscarriages
- Postpartum hemorrhage
- Abnormal presentation of the fetus
- Rarely, interference with the movement of the fetus through the vagina during labor
It may seem scary, but there is support for black women dealing with fibroids. For those of us dealing with
