GITNUXREPORT 2025

Uterine Fibroids Statistics

Uterine fibroids affect many women, often requiring treatment and causing symptoms.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

The average diameter of uterine fibroids ranges from 1 to 10 centimeters

Statistic 2

Uterine fibroids are classified based on their location in the uterus: submucosal, intramural, and subserosal, with intramural being the most common

Statistic 3

Uterine fibroids are responsible for approximately 200,000 hysterectomies annually in the United States

Statistic 4

Approximately 25% of women with fibroids will require surgical intervention during their lifetime

Statistic 5

The economic burden of fibroid-related treatments in the US exceeds $5 billion annually, including diagnosis, procedures, and lost productivity

Statistic 6

The annual cost of managing fibroids in Europe and North America combined is estimated to be in the billions of dollars, with direct healthcare costs and indirect costs accounted for

Statistic 7

Uterine fibroids are more likely to develop in women who are obese, with a 1.5 to 2 times higher risk compared to women with normal weight

Statistic 8

About 20-30% of women with fibroids will need surgical or medical treatment during their lifetime

Statistic 9

Up to 70-80% of women will develop uterine fibroids by age 50

Statistic 10

Uterine fibroids are diagnosed in approximately 20-80% of women by age 50

Statistic 11

African American women are two to three times more likely to develop fibroids than white women

Statistic 12

About 60-70% of women with fibroids are asymptomatic

Statistic 13

The prevalence of fibroids in women aged 30-50 is approximately 40-70%

Statistic 14

Uterine fibroids are more common in women with a family history, with a 3-fold increased risk if a first-degree relative is affected

Statistic 15

Black women tend to develop fibroids at a younger age than white women, with median age of diagnosis being 30 for African Americans, compared to 36 for white women

Statistic 16

The growth rate of fibroids varies; some remain stable while others grow rapidly, especially during pregnancy

Statistic 17

Hormonal factors like estrogen and progesterone promote fibroid growth, with fibroids shrinking after menopause

Statistic 18

About 5-10% of women with fibroids experience infertility or pregnancy complications

Statistic 19

The incidence of fibroids increases with age up to menopause, then declines, with peak prevalence around age 45-50

Statistic 20

Obstetric outcomes such as miscarriage and preterm birth are increased in women with sizable fibroids, especially submucosal types, with risk increases of up to 4-fold

Statistic 21

A 2014 survey indicated that approximately 7% of women aged 18-44 reported having uterine fibroids

Statistic 22

Fibroids are more common in women who have never been pregnant, with a prevalence of around 30-60%

Statistic 23

The risk of developing fibroids increases with early menarche, with onset before age 11 associated with higher prevalence

Statistic 24

The fibroid growth rate is higher in women of reproductive age, particularly during pregnancy when they can enlarge by 20% or more

Statistic 25

Some studies suggest that vitamin D deficiency might be linked to increased fibroid development, although more research is needed

Statistic 26

Uterine fibroids are the leading cause of hysterectomy in the United States, accounting for approximately 30% of cases

Statistic 27

The rate of fibroid-related hysterectomy is higher in Hispanic women compared to non-Hispanic white women, with a nearly 2-fold difference

Statistic 28

Fibroid prevalence appears to be higher among women with hypertension, with some studies suggesting a correlation

Statistic 29

The majority of fibroids are benign and do not become cancerous, with a chance of less than 0.3%

Statistic 30

Approximately 50% of women with fibroids experience symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pressure, or pain

Statistic 31

The most common symptom leading women to seek treatment is heavy menstrual bleeding, reported in 75% of symptomatic cases

Statistic 32

Uterine fibroids can cause bulk symptoms such as urinary frequency or constipation in up to 50% of women

Statistic 33

Symptoms such as abnormal bleeding, pain, and pressure often lead to diagnosis during reproductive years, particularly between ages 30-45

Statistic 34

Uterine fibroids tend to grow slowly over years, but rapid growth may occur during pregnancy or due to hormonal fluctuations

Statistic 35

Hysterectomy is the most common treatment for symptomatic fibroids in women over 40, accounting for about 30% of all hysterectomies

Statistic 36

Non-surgical options such as uterine artery embolization have a success rate of approximately 85% in symptom relief

Statistic 37

The recurrence rate of fibroids after myomectomy is about 15-20% within five years

Statistic 38

NSAIDs are often used to manage symptoms such as pain associated with fibroids, with effectiveness in about 60% of cases

Statistic 39

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a non-invasive treatment that has shown symptom relief in about 80% of women

Statistic 40

In women aged 35-49, the use of hormonal treatments like GnRH agonists can reduce fibroid size by up to 50%

Statistic 41

The use of progestin-releasing intrauterine devices (IUDs) can help control heavy bleeding associated with fibroids, though they do not reduce fibroid size

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Key Highlights

Up to 70-80% of women will develop uterine fibroids by age 50
Uterine fibroids are diagnosed in approximately 20-80% of women by age 50
African American women are two to three times more likely to develop fibroids than white women
About 60-70% of women with fibroids are asymptomatic
Uterine fibroids are responsible for approximately 200,000 hysterectomies annually in the United States
The average diameter of uterine fibroids ranges from 1 to 10 centimeters
Approximately 25% of women with fibroids will require surgical intervention during their lifetime
The prevalence of fibroids in women aged 30-50 is approximately 40-70%
Uterine fibroids are more common in women with a family history, with a 3-fold increased risk if a first-degree relative is affected
Black women tend to develop fibroids at a younger age than white women, with median age of diagnosis being 30 for African Americans, compared to 36 for white women
Approximately 50% of women with fibroids experience symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pressure, or pain
The growth rate of fibroids varies; some remain stable while others grow rapidly, especially during pregnancy
Hormonal factors like estrogen and progesterone promote fibroid growth, with fibroids shrinking after menopause

Did you know that up to 80% of women will develop uterine fibroids by age 50, making them one of the most common, yet often silent, health challenges affecting women worldwide?

Diagnosis and Classification

The average diameter of uterine fibroids ranges from 1 to 10 centimeters
Uterine fibroids are classified based on their location in the uterus: submucosal, intramural, and subserosal, with intramural being the most common

Diagnosis and Classification Interpretation

With fibroid sizes spanning from a tiny whisper of 1 centimeter to a formidable 10 centimeters and their classification rooted in location—most commonly intramural—they remind us that even in the realm of reproductive health, size and position can make a significant difference.

Economic and Epidemiological Impact

Uterine fibroids are responsible for approximately 200,000 hysterectomies annually in the United States
Approximately 25% of women with fibroids will require surgical intervention during their lifetime
The economic burden of fibroid-related treatments in the US exceeds $5 billion annually, including diagnosis, procedures, and lost productivity
The annual cost of managing fibroids in Europe and North America combined is estimated to be in the billions of dollars, with direct healthcare costs and indirect costs accounted for

Economic and Epidemiological Impact Interpretation

Uterine fibroids, quietly driving hundreds of thousands of hysterectomies and billions in costs each year across the US and beyond, highlight the urgent need for more effective, less invasive solutions in women's health.

Epidemiological Impact

Uterine fibroids are more likely to develop in women who are obese, with a 1.5 to 2 times higher risk compared to women with normal weight
About 20-30% of women with fibroids will need surgical or medical treatment during their lifetime

Epidemiological Impact Interpretation

Obese women face a 1.5 to 2 times higher risk of developing uterine fibroids, highlighting the importance of weight management in reducing the potential need for surgical or medical intervention in nearly a third of cases.

Prevalence and Demographics

Up to 70-80% of women will develop uterine fibroids by age 50
Uterine fibroids are diagnosed in approximately 20-80% of women by age 50
African American women are two to three times more likely to develop fibroids than white women
About 60-70% of women with fibroids are asymptomatic
The prevalence of fibroids in women aged 30-50 is approximately 40-70%
Uterine fibroids are more common in women with a family history, with a 3-fold increased risk if a first-degree relative is affected
Black women tend to develop fibroids at a younger age than white women, with median age of diagnosis being 30 for African Americans, compared to 36 for white women
The growth rate of fibroids varies; some remain stable while others grow rapidly, especially during pregnancy
Hormonal factors like estrogen and progesterone promote fibroid growth, with fibroids shrinking after menopause
About 5-10% of women with fibroids experience infertility or pregnancy complications
The incidence of fibroids increases with age up to menopause, then declines, with peak prevalence around age 45-50
Obstetric outcomes such as miscarriage and preterm birth are increased in women with sizable fibroids, especially submucosal types, with risk increases of up to 4-fold
A 2014 survey indicated that approximately 7% of women aged 18-44 reported having uterine fibroids
Fibroids are more common in women who have never been pregnant, with a prevalence of around 30-60%
The risk of developing fibroids increases with early menarche, with onset before age 11 associated with higher prevalence
The fibroid growth rate is higher in women of reproductive age, particularly during pregnancy when they can enlarge by 20% or more
Some studies suggest that vitamin D deficiency might be linked to increased fibroid development, although more research is needed
Uterine fibroids are the leading cause of hysterectomy in the United States, accounting for approximately 30% of cases
The rate of fibroid-related hysterectomy is higher in Hispanic women compared to non-Hispanic white women, with a nearly 2-fold difference
Fibroid prevalence appears to be higher among women with hypertension, with some studies suggesting a correlation
The majority of fibroids are benign and do not become cancerous, with a chance of less than 0.3%

Prevalence and Demographics Interpretation

With up to 80% of women developing uterine fibroids by age 50—particularly affecting African American women earlier and more severely—it's clear that these benign yet often silent tumors, driven by hormones and family history, are a significant, gender-specific health concern that underscores the importance of awareness, early detection, and tailored treatment strategies.

Symptoms and Clinical Presentation

Approximately 50% of women with fibroids experience symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pressure, or pain
The most common symptom leading women to seek treatment is heavy menstrual bleeding, reported in 75% of symptomatic cases
Uterine fibroids can cause bulk symptoms such as urinary frequency or constipation in up to 50% of women
Symptoms such as abnormal bleeding, pain, and pressure often lead to diagnosis during reproductive years, particularly between ages 30-45
Uterine fibroids tend to grow slowly over years, but rapid growth may occur during pregnancy or due to hormonal fluctuations

Symptoms and Clinical Presentation Interpretation

With half of women experiencing symptoms like heavy bleeding, pressure, or pain, uterine fibroids—typically slow growers—can suddenly demand attention, especially during reproductive years when hormonal surges can cause rapid growth, making them both a silent threat and a disruptive force in women's health.

Treatment Options and Management

Hysterectomy is the most common treatment for symptomatic fibroids in women over 40, accounting for about 30% of all hysterectomies
Non-surgical options such as uterine artery embolization have a success rate of approximately 85% in symptom relief
The recurrence rate of fibroids after myomectomy is about 15-20% within five years
NSAIDs are often used to manage symptoms such as pain associated with fibroids, with effectiveness in about 60% of cases
Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a non-invasive treatment that has shown symptom relief in about 80% of women
In women aged 35-49, the use of hormonal treatments like GnRH agonists can reduce fibroid size by up to 50%
The use of progestin-releasing intrauterine devices (IUDs) can help control heavy bleeding associated with fibroids, though they do not reduce fibroid size

Treatment Options and Management Interpretation

While hysterectomy remains the reigning champion among treatments for women over 40 with fibroids, a growing arsenal of less invasive options boasting high success rates—like uterine artery embolization and MRgFUS—highlight a shifting landscape where symptom relief and quality of life increasingly take precedence over surgical removal.