Table of Contents
Risk Factors
Uterine fibroids are the most common tumor found in female reproductive organs.
Age
Fibroids are most common in women who are their 30s through early 50s. (After menopause, fibroids tend to shrink.) About 20 - 40% of women age 35 and older have fibroids of significant enough size to cause symptoms.
Race and Ethnicity
Uterine fibroids are particularly common in African-American women, and these women tend to develop them at a younger age than white women.
Family History
Family history, (having a mother or sister who had fibroids), may increase risk.
Other Possible Risk Factors
Obesity and high blood pressure may possibly be associated with increased fibroid risk
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Review Date: 07/26/2010
Reviewed By: Reviewed by Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor
of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts
General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
