Lack of knowledge about uterine fibroids U.S.| ��ƽ��

Percentage of women who lacked knowledge about uterine fibroids in the United States in 2024

Characteristic	Percentage of respondents
Have never heard of uterine fibroids	20%
Don't think they're at risk of uterine fibroids	72%
Do not know anyone diagnosed with fibroids	52%
Believe fibroids increase your risk for uterine cancer	29%
Think hysterectomy is the only treatment option*	17%

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Release date

July 2024

More information

Region

United States

Survey time period

May 30 to June 3, 2024

Number of respondents

1,122 respondents

Age group

18 years and older

Special properties

Women only, including 167 who have personally been diagnosed with uterine fibroids

Method of interview

Online survey

Supplementary notes

According to the CDC, "uterine fibroids are the most common noncancerous tumors in women of reproductive age. Fibroids are made of muscle cells and other tissues that grow in and around the wall of the uterus, or womb. The cause of fibroids is unknown. Risk factors include being African American or being overweight. The symptoms of fibroids include: Heavy or painful periods or bleeding between periods. Feeling "full" in the lower abdomen. Urinating often. Pain during sex. Lower back pain. Infertility. Multiple miscarriages. But some women will have no symptoms."

* Among women diagnosed with uterine fibroids.

Citation formats

Despite uterine fibroids being a common reproductive disorder, there is not enough information and education around the topic. A survey from 2024 found that nearly three-quarters of women mistakenly think they are not at risk of uterine fibroids, yet up to 77 percent of adult women will develop fibroids at some point in their life, according to the source. Not all women who have fibroids are also symptomatic; however, symptoms can be extremely debilitating, including heavy or prolonged bleeding to the point of being anemic and causing fatigue. Similarly, information on treatment options is also scarce and commonly misunderstood. A hysterectomy is not, in fact, the only option despite often being presented as such.