How Race Affects Chronic Pelvic Pain Treatment

Women who have uterine fibroids may experience a variety of symptoms, from heavy bleeding during menstrual cycles to pelvic pain. Now, all women can develop these non-cancerous tumors. However, Black women develop fibroids more frequently than women of other races. They also tend to have larger tumors and worse symptoms. And that’s a big problem, especially because new evidence reveals that, compared to White women,  Black women also experience a major treatment gap when seeking relief for chronic pelvic pain.

Treatment Gaps for Chronic Pelvic Pain

Whether they are White or Black, women with uterine fibroids often experience pelvic pain, as do women who suffer from endometriosis. Yet, when seeking relief for this concern, treatment approaches tend to differ based on their race, according to this study in the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology. To reach these findings, researchers surveyed 3,203 Black and White women with chronic pelvic pain to discuss their relative pain experiences, as well as their treatment journey. And here’s what they discovered: “White and Black patients with chronic pelvic pain had similar endometriosis diagnosis rates but differed in treatment and pain severity… Black patients used more opioids and reported higher pain severity. Findings suggest a need to address potential racial inequities in care.”

Compassionate Care, Regardless of Race

When fibroid symptoms are disrupting your daily life, the last thing you want to consider is whether race will impact the quality of care you receive or the treatment options you’re offered. That’s why, at Georgia Fibroids, we advocate for fibroid awareness, ensuring that women of all know that surgery is not the only pathway to symptom relief. Instead, you can explore minimally invasive treatment options such as Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE), finding relief for symptoms such as chronic pelvic pain without the need for overnight hospital stays or extended recovery periods. And you can learn more about this option by reaching out to our team to request a consultation at one of our three locations in the Greater Atlanta region.