Black women with fibroids face delays and poor care in the UK, says report

"Black women in the UK who experience symptoms caused by fibroids are facing delays, poor care and dismissal by healthcare professionals according to a parliamentary report. Published by the all-party parliamentary group on black health, the report included a survey of more than 500 women regarding their experience of uterine fibroids, with more than 70% of respondents being Black British."

"The survey found that more than a quarter (27%) of respondents were not offered any treatment after being diagnosed with fibroids, and more than 50% also had experienced delays to their diagnosis of at least two years, while 26% of respondents had lived with fibroids for more than 10 years. Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths that develop in or around the womb."

"Serious cases can be linked to very heavy or long menstrual periods, pain, pelvic pressure and infertility and an increased risk of miscarriage. Previous reports have suggested that black and Asian women may have an increased risk of experiencing more serious cases of fibroids. The report also found there to be a lack of dedicated research to uterine fibroids in general in the UK, finding that between 2014 and 2021 there have been only six UK-based research studies on the issue."

Black women in the UK who experience symptoms caused by uterine fibroids face delays, poor care and dismissal by healthcare professionals. A survey of over 500 women—more than 70% Black British—found 27% received no treatment after diagnosis and over 50% experienced diagnostic delays of at least two years; 26% had lived with fibroids for more than ten years. Uterine fibroids are noncancerous womb growths that can cause very heavy or prolonged periods, pain, pelvic pressure, infertility and increased miscarriage risk. Black and Asian women may have higher risk of severe fibroid cases. Only six UK-based fibroid studies occurred between 2014 and 2021, indicating major research gaps and a need for genetics and lived-experience studies to address systemic care failures.

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