What Are Fibroids?
3. Statistics
By the age of 50 years old, it is estimated that 20% to 80% of women develop fibroids. In 2013, it was estimated that about 171 million women were affected globally. Fibroids are usually found in the middle and reproductive years for women. Once they reach menopause, the fibroids generally start to decrease in size.
A study has observed that surgery to remove uterine fibroids are more common among women with “higher social classes.” Although fibroids are common, up to 50% of those affected are asymptomatic. In the United States, about 80% of African American women will develop benign fibroids by their late 40s. Fibroids are more common among African American women compared to Caucasian women. They also tend to grow faster, occur at a younger age, and are more likely to cause issues resulting in higher surgical rates.
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