Fibroids: What Every Black Woman Should Know

While the name may sound like some kind of alien life form, in reality, fibroids are pretty common. Growths comprising your connective tissues and muscle cells, fibroids occur in the majority of women. Nearly half of women of childbearing age currently have them, and more than ¾ of women at that age will develop them.  Fibroids are found inside and outside the uterus. While it doesn’t sound like fun having these uterine ‘growths,’ here’s the good news: almost all of them are non-cancerous. In fact, virtually 99 percent are benign. But that doesn’t mean they can’t complicate things!  Signs and Symptoms to Look For While rarely life-threatening, fibroids can threaten the life of an unborn baby. In fact, if you’re pregnant and have fibroids, your likelihood of preterm delivery is greater, and many women have to undergo a C-section to deliver. Sometimes, miscarriages also occur.  Black women especially should be vigilant. Roughly ¼ of Black women will have fibroids before the age of 25 and about 80 percent will have them by the time they turn 50, up from 70 percent for white women. Fortunately, your body will give you many signs that you may have fibroids.  These include:  Intense...