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What Increases My Risk for Uterine Fibroids?

What Increases My Risk for Uterine Fibroids? (0:37)

Risk factors for uterine fibroids include age, race (African American women have a higher risk overall), heredity and obesity. Watch as OB/GYN specialist Jessica Shepherd, MD, explains the risk factors to be aware of when it comes to fibroids.

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For uterine fibroids when we look at risk factors we usually look at things as age, anywhere from between the age of 40 and 50. We also look at race, race is a big factor with fibroids. African American women by the age of 50 have an increased incidence of 80% of fibroids, and also we'll look at hereditary factors.

If your mother or your sister have suffered from fibroids, there's a good chance that you too may have fibroids. Another cause a risk factor for fibroids actually is obesity, and so when we look at diet and fibroids there has been a link been diet and fibroids and obesity is a risk factor for fibroids.