For many Black women, living with uterine fibroids means more than having heavy periods. Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths that can cause chronic pelvic pain, excessive menstrual bleeding, frequent urination, fertility challenges, anemia, and bloating that interfere with everyday life.
While researchers are still working to understand exactly why Black women develop fibroids at disproportionately higher rates, studies consistently show they are diagnosed at younger ages, experience larger and more numerous fibroids, and often have more severe symptoms than women of other racial and ethnic groups.
Although fibroid treatment options have expanded over the past decade, many women still find themselves choosing between managing symptoms with medication or undergoing surgery.
BlackDoctor spoke with Whitney Lankford, MD, Honey Pot Pulse Panel member, to discuss how fibroid treatments have evolved, what clinical trials are currently exploring, and why the future of fibroid care may offer women more options than ever before.
Many of the medications available today help manage fibroid symptoms, but they don’t eliminate the tumors themselves. Current research is focused on developing therapies that can safely shrink fibroids, reduce heavy menstrual bleeding, relieve pain, and delay — or even prevent — the need for surgery.
One area receiving significant attention is hormone-targeted therapy. Because fibroids are influenced by estrogen and progesterone, researchers are studying medications that selectively block or regulate these hormones while minimizing side effects.
Dr. Lankford says newer medications are already changing how physicians manage fibroids, while clinical trials continue to explore additional therapies that could further expand treatment options.
“GnRH antagonist therapies are also newer effective therapies that shrink fibroids and decrease the heavy menstrual bleeding associated with them without causing premature menopause,” she explains. “There is clinical research exploring targeted enzyme therapy that can dissolve fibroids. This would be groundbreaking as it doesn’t require a procedure and may be a viable option for those who have already undergone one or more procedures with fibroid recurrence.”
Researchers are also exploring treatments that target the biological pathways responsible for fibroid growth instead of simply managing symptoms, raising the possibility of more effective long-term therapies. While these treatments are still being studied, they represent a growing shift toward less invasive options that address fibroids before surgery becomes necessary.
RELATED: What Are Uterine Fibroids and Why Black Women Are at Higher Risk
Although surgery remains an effective treatment for many women, it’s no longer the only option. Researchers are continuing to evaluate minimally invasive procedures that destroy fibroids while preserving the uterus, reducing recovery time, and helping women return to their daily lives sooner.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), which uses heat to destroy fibroid tissue, is one of the most actively studied approaches. Ongoing clinical trials are evaluating its long-term effectiveness, symptom relief, pregnancy outcomes, and the likelihood that women will need additional treatment years later.
Dr. Lankford says one of the biggest advances over the past decade has been the expansion of minimally invasive procedures that allow women to receive effective treatment without major abdominal surgery.
“I’m very excited about minimally invasive treatment options for symptomatic fibroids,” she says. “As a minimally invasive and robotic surgeon, myomectomies are commonplace in my practice and give women the opportunity for treatments that fit into their busy lifestyles and grant quicker recovery periods with less discomfort. These therapies include transcervical ablation, targeted radiofrequency, uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), hysteroscopic myomectomy and robotic myomectomy. These advancements renew hope in future fertility and step away from major abdominal surgeries that are lengthy, require hospital stays, and can lead to visible skin scarring.”
Medical advances depend on diverse participation in clinical research. Because Black women develop fibroids more frequently and often experience more severe disease, researchers emphasize the importance of ensuring they are represented in clinical trials.
Greater participation helps scientists understand how treatments perform across different populations and whether factors such as genetics, hormone levels, age, or environmental exposures influence treatment outcomes.
Dr. Lankford says another misconception she frequently encounters is that hysterectomy is the only treatment available for women with fibroids.
“Many Black women have been led to believe that the mainstay in treatment is a hysterectomy,” she says. “This can be disheartening to individuals who desire future fertility and childbearing and can be intimidating to those who don’t desire surgical procedures. There are several treatment options available, and women should be educated on each prior to formulating a plan.”
RELATED: Why We Need to Talk About Fibroids — And Stop Normalizing the Pain
When researchers improve diversity in fibroid research, the likelihood that future therapies will be safe and effective for the women most affected by the disease also increases. As researchers continue enrolling participants in ongoing studies, expanding representation remains an important step toward reducing longstanding disparities in fibroid care.
Although there is currently no universal cure for uterine fibroids, the future of treatment continues to evolve. Researchers are developing new medications, improving minimally invasive procedures, and working toward more personalized approaches to care.
While many of these therapies are still being evaluated through clinical trials, they represent meaningful progress toward expanding treatment options beyond traditional surgery. For women living with fibroids — particularly Black women, who continue to carry a disproportionate burden of the disease — that research offers hope that future care will become more effective, less invasive, and better tailored to individual needs.
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