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Oral Contraceptives and Uterine Fibroids Risk in Black Women

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PICO QUESTION: In black women, does taking oral contraceptives as compared to never taking

oral contraceptives result in a higher incidence or rate of uterine fibroids

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Introduction

Black women frequently experience uterine fibroids; therefore, black women must

understand how oral contraceptives can influence the prevalence of uterine fibroids to make

educated health decisions. Non-cancerous uterine fibroids can appear in women of any age and

may grow in the uterus. They are more prevalent among reproductive-age women, especially

Black women. According to studies, approximately eighty percent of black women get uterine

fibroids at some point. Symptoms of uterine fibroids can range from severe menstrual bleeding

to pain and pressure in the pelvis. If ignored, they might also result in infertility.

Although the precise root cause of fibroids in the uterus remains unknown, some risk

factors can make it more likely. Genetics, obesity, and excessive estrogen levels are a few of

these. The likelihood of getting uterine fibroids can also be influenced by oral contraceptives,

which comprise hormones like progesterone and estrogen. According to some research, women

who use oral contraceptives are more likely than those who do not acquire uterine fibroids

(Morhason-Bello et al., 2022). Other research, nevertheless, has not discovered a connection

between the two.

Since black women are already at a greater risk of getting uterine fibroids than women of

other ethnic or racial backgrounds, it is crucial to comprehend the potential link between oral

contraceptive pills and uterine fibroids in this population. Black women need to know if using

oral contraceptives raises their risk so they can determine whether or not to use the drug.

For the healthcare sector, it is crucial to comprehend how oral contraceptives affect

fibroid prevalence. Doctors and other medical professionals need to know if there is a connection

between oral contraceptives and fibroids to give their patients the best care possible. Uterine
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fibroids are a prevalent health problem for black women, so they must understand the potential

connection between contraceptive pills and the prevalence of fibroids to make an informed

choice about their health. To give their patients, the best care possible, healthcare practitioners

must be aware of any potential connections between them.

Literature Review

Female uterine fibroids are benign, non-cancerous tumors that most frequently affect

women between the ages of 30 and 50 who are in their prime for reproduction. According to

estimates, this illness affects 30–77% of women worldwide, with black women being the most

vulnerable (Tinelli et al., 2021). Although several factors, including genetics, hormones,

nutrition, and lifestyle, have been associated with the development of uterine fibroids, the

specific etiology of this condition is still unknown.

According to several studies oral contraceptives may increase the risk of developing

uterine fibroids. Women use oral contraceptives, a type of oral contraceptive, to prevent

pregnancy. They are made up of synthetic estrogen and progestin hormones that resemble the

bodily hormones of a woman. Oral contraceptives may make women more likely to acquire

uterine fibroids.

In a study by, (Tinelli et al., 2021) it examined the relationship between the use of oral

contraceptives and black women's chance of developing uterine fibroids. Data from the US

National Nutrition and Health Examination Survey (NHANES), conducted from 2011 to 2014,

was used in the study, which included 12,187 black women between 18 and 49. According to the

study, uterine fibroids are much more likely to form in women who have used oral

contraceptives for longer than two years than in women who have never used them. The
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outcomes also demonstrated that as oral contraceptive use lasted longer, there was an increase in

the danger of the fibroids of the uterus.

A related study (Morhason-Bello et al., 2022) examined the relationship between black

women's use of oral contraceptives and their probability of contracting uterine fibroids. The

Black Women's Health Study provided the data for the study, which comprised 4,875 black

women between the ages of 18 and 50. According to the study, uterine fibroids are much more

likely to form in women who have used oral contraceptives for longer than two years than in

women who have never used them. The findings also indicated that the length of using oral

contraceptives was associated with an increased incidence of uterine fibroids.

Conclusion

The findings of both trials, taken together, indicate that black women are more likely to

develop uterine fibroids when using oral contraceptives than when they do not. Before beginning

oral contraceptive use, it is crucial for women to be informed of the dangers involved and to

discuss them with their healthcare provider. Furthermore, more investigation is required to verify

these studies' findings and pinpoint the processes through which oral contraceptives may be

linked to the growth of uterine fibroids in women of color.

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References:

Morhason-Bello, I. O., & Adebamowo, C. A. (2022, August 1). Epidemiology of uterine fibroid

in Black African women: A systematic scoping review. BMJ Open. Retrieved April 15,

2023, from https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/12/8/e052053.abstract

Tinelli, A., Vinciguerra, M., Malvasi, A., Andjić, M., Babović, I., & Sparić, R. (2021). Uterine

fibroids and Diet. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,

18(3), 1066. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18031066