Uterine fibroids are a woman’s health condition that is significant enough to be everyone’s problem. According to Hologic medical technology, fibroids are noncancerous tumors that grow in the smooth muscle cells of the uterus.
This medical issue does affect women’s ability to have children. A study from the National Library of Medicine reveals that 80% of Black women will develop it by the age of 50.
The Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) is an organization that stands by all women who face this challenge. “We can’t stop. We owe it to Black women to make sure that they know an organization and a group of women are fighting for their rights in fertility, maternity, and chronic disease wellness daily,” said Linda Goler Blount, MPH, president of the Black Women’s Health Imperative.
Currently, there is no cure for fibroids. The only solutions available are surgeries, but they have their set of complications. According to Blount, most adult women have fibroids but do not show symptoms, which can lead to many women not knowing that they have it.
Another necessity of National Fibroids Awareness Month is encouraging institutions and policymakers to invest in fibroids research. This step can help those suffering from severe cases.
Blount explains that women of color tend to have larger fibroids than most women. Fibroids are made of the same material as the uterus.
Fibroids become tumors when the cell goes rogue and grows. They are painful and can range from the size of a seed to a watermelon. The intensity of the pain can keep women from going to school, to work, and from enjoying their lives.
The BWHI wants everyone to know this so that proper support can go to places that are essential to help those suffering. “I want your readers to know that not enough is being done. Something absolutely can be done, but because we don’t prioritize these women and Black women in particular, we are in this situation. We need to ensure that we have policy, legislation, and research that protects all women,” said Blount.
BWHI has brought stories of women and science-based evidence regarding women’s health to policymakers for years. They have fought for policies to help women nationwide with their unique health challenges. One victory BWHI achieved was in 2023 when the organization battled the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to raise the age of women screening for breast cancer to 50.
Their efforts did not allow that to happen, and this made way for BWHI’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Research Project among Black women. This initiative aims to answer the question of when Black women should get screened for breast cancer. The U.S. The Preventive Task Force made their health recommendations based on studies done in Sweden and Canada.
According to Blount, no Black women were involved in those studies. One piece of legislation that BWHI fought to pass was the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act. This bill would have established funding for research on fibroids and created public education programming about the condition.
Unfortunately, the bill did not pass in the House. But BHWI and its partners continue to push. “It is viewed as something for Black women, and where we are in our society, anything that seems to hint at racial equity is frankly de-prioritized by a vast segment of our policymakers.
“But we are undaunted. We will keep pushing and bringing evidence and stories to the House floor. Too many women are suffering unnecessarily and losing the ability to have children.”
The article was first published in the Atlanta Voice—courtesy of Word In Black.