Uterine fibroids — Causes, impact, treatment, and lens to the African perspective
Leiomyomas, or uterine fibroids as they are commonly known, are mostly seen in women of reproductive age. However, they can go undetected in most women, and approximately 25% of women show clinical symptoms. Although fibroids are a global burden impacting 80% of premenopausal women, they are more pr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.1045783/full |
| _version_ | 1797956539716206592 |
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| author | Narvella Sefah Sithembinkosi Ndebele Lillian Prince Elizabeth Korasare Michael Agbleke Annabella Nkansah Humphrey Thompson Ayman Al-Hendy Andrews Akwasi Agbleke |
| author_facet | Narvella Sefah Sithembinkosi Ndebele Lillian Prince Elizabeth Korasare Michael Agbleke Annabella Nkansah Humphrey Thompson Ayman Al-Hendy Andrews Akwasi Agbleke |
| author_sort | Narvella Sefah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Leiomyomas, or uterine fibroids as they are commonly known, are mostly seen in women of reproductive age. However, they can go undetected in most women, and approximately 25% of women show clinical symptoms. Although fibroids are a global burden impacting 80% of premenopausal women, they are more prevalent among Black women than among women of other races. Based on clinical diagnosis, the estimated cumulative incidence of fibroids in women ≤50 years old is significantly higher for black (>80%) versus white women (∼70%). The cause of leiomyomas is not clearly known, but studies have shown evidence of factors that drive the development or exacerbation of the disease. Evidence has linked risk factors such as lifestyle, age, environment, family history of uterine fibroids, and vitamin D deficiencies to an increased risk of uterine fibroids, which impact women of African descent at higher rates. Treatments may be invasive, such as hysterectomy and myomectomy, or non-invasive, such as hormonal or non-hormonal therapies. These treatments are costly and tend to burden women who have the disease. Sub-Saharan Africa is known to have the largest population of black women, yet the majority of uterine fibroid studies do not include populations from the continent. Furthermore, the prevalence of the disease on the continent is not well determined. To effectively treat the disease, its drivers need to be understood, especially with regard to racial preferences. This paper aims to review the existing literature and build a case for conducting future research on African women. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:51:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a3f011963c4d474894db930831223030 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1663-9812 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T23:51:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| spelling | doaj.art-a3f011963c4d474894db9308312230302023-01-10T18:25:15ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122023-01-011310.3389/fphar.2022.10457831045783Uterine fibroids — Causes, impact, treatment, and lens to the African perspectiveNarvella Sefah0Sithembinkosi Ndebele1Lillian Prince2Elizabeth Korasare3Michael Agbleke4Annabella Nkansah5Humphrey Thompson6Ayman Al-Hendy7Andrews Akwasi Agbleke8University of Chicago, Chicago, United StatesUniversity of Chicago, Chicago, United StatesUniversity of Chicago, Chicago, United StatesFibroid Foundation Africa, Accra, GhanaSena Institute of Technology, Penyi, GhanaSena Institute of Technology, Penyi, GhanaSena Institute of Technology, Penyi, GhanaUniversity of Chicago, Chicago, United StatesSena Institute of Technology, Penyi, GhanaLeiomyomas, or uterine fibroids as they are commonly known, are mostly seen in women of reproductive age. However, they can go undetected in most women, and approximately 25% of women show clinical symptoms. Although fibroids are a global burden impacting 80% of premenopausal women, they are more prevalent among Black women than among women of other races. Based on clinical diagnosis, the estimated cumulative incidence of fibroids in women ≤50 years old is significantly higher for black (>80%) versus white women (∼70%). The cause of leiomyomas is not clearly known, but studies have shown evidence of factors that drive the development or exacerbation of the disease. Evidence has linked risk factors such as lifestyle, age, environment, family history of uterine fibroids, and vitamin D deficiencies to an increased risk of uterine fibroids, which impact women of African descent at higher rates. Treatments may be invasive, such as hysterectomy and myomectomy, or non-invasive, such as hormonal or non-hormonal therapies. These treatments are costly and tend to burden women who have the disease. Sub-Saharan Africa is known to have the largest population of black women, yet the majority of uterine fibroid studies do not include populations from the continent. Furthermore, the prevalence of the disease on the continent is not well determined. To effectively treat the disease, its drivers need to be understood, especially with regard to racial preferences. This paper aims to review the existing literature and build a case for conducting future research on African women.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.1045783/fullfibroidAfricacauses and treatmentperspectivetypes and classificationrace |
| spellingShingle | Narvella Sefah Sithembinkosi Ndebele Lillian Prince Elizabeth Korasare Michael Agbleke Annabella Nkansah Humphrey Thompson Ayman Al-Hendy Andrews Akwasi Agbleke Uterine fibroids — Causes, impact, treatment, and lens to the African perspective Frontiers in Pharmacology fibroid Africa causes and treatment perspective types and classification race |
| title | Uterine fibroids — Causes, impact, treatment, and lens to the African perspective |
| title_full | Uterine fibroids — Causes, impact, treatment, and lens to the African perspective |
| title_fullStr | Uterine fibroids — Causes, impact, treatment, and lens to the African perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Uterine fibroids — Causes, impact, treatment, and lens to the African perspective |
| title_short | Uterine fibroids — Causes, impact, treatment, and lens to the African perspective |
| title_sort | uterine fibroids causes impact treatment and lens to the african perspective |
| topic | fibroid Africa causes and treatment perspective types and classification race |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.1045783/full |
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