The fibroid treatment they do not tell us

Up to 80% of black women will develop uterine fibroids at the age of 50, according to data from USA fibroid centers, with more serious symptoms and less treatment options than their white counterparts. However, many are never informed of the embolization of uterine fibroids (UFE), a mini-invasive alternative to surgery.

We talked about with Dr Pratik A. Shukla to explore why this option remains neglected and what it will take to achieve real reproductive justice.

Why don’t women know for Ufe?

BHM: You play Ufe at Rutgers, but many women still do not know that it exists. Why then?

Dr Pratik A. Shukla: UFE is a mini-invasive procedure that cuts blood supply to fibroids, which makes them shrink and finally disappear. This is done by a small incision on the wrist or groin, and most patients return home on the same day without stitches. Recovery is rapid, and it has been shown that it is as effective as surgery. However, it is underused, in part because patients generally see a gynecologist first. Unless the gynecologist refers to interventional radiology, they can never hear about the UFE.

Reality corresponds to this concern. A survey in 2024 conducted by the Society of Interventional Radiology revealed that only 17% of women diagnosed with fibroids recalled at UFE as a treatment, while hysterectomy remained the dominant recommendation. The data highlights a greater disconnection in the way the processing routes are presented, those which continue to limit the way patients are fully informed.

The disproportionate burden for black women

BHM: fibroids have a disproportionate disproportionate impact. What stimulates this disparity?

Dr Shukla: It’s largely genetic. Black and Hispanic women are more likely to develop fibroids and have more serious symptoms. There is also a cultural aspect; Some women delay care because their symptoms seem “normal” within their community, which can lead to later diagnoses and more advanced cases.

The national estimates cited by Michigan Medicine report that almost a quarter of black women aged 18 to 30 have fibroids, compared to around 6% of white women. At the age of 35, this number is 60% for black women. Women in our community are also much more likely to feel recurring fibroids and undergo hysterectomies, often during their years of reproduction.

Reach the communities that need it most

BHM: In a world of disinformation, what does real education and awareness -rated? What approaches have proved to be the most effective in reaching women who could otherwise never hear from UFE?

Dr Shukla: I mainly work in a poorly served community with low health literacy, where fibroids are endemic to the population, and I tried to find ways to raise awareness and raise awareness of patients. I have tried everything – the education of gynecologists through barely round conferences, patient education tools, traditional marketing such as social media, personally outings with a team of educators in the community for health fairs, and even a partnership with UFE support groups such as White Dress Project.

What I found is that the only really effective method, especially in poorly served minority communities, is a booty approach on the ground. However, this requires a significant amount of power and time of person. Currently, I direct the awareness group for the embolization of uterine fibroids within the Radiology Health Equity Coalition.

The objective is to constitute teams of medical students motivated in university centers in urban areas with similar populations, we can therefore increase these efforts in a coordinated manner. Medicine students and residents are encouraged to do productive volunteer work, in this case, education and awareness of patients, with the support of participation in mentors of doctors like me.

A more in -depth look at the figures

According to the Society of Interventional Radiology, 72% of women interviewed did not know that they were at risk of fibroids. Meanwhile, research compiled by the Fibroid Fighters foundation shows that more than 85% of UFE patients report improved quality of life after treatment, often on an outpatient.

While the data continues to accumulate, access to options like UFE remains fragmented. Awareness gaps and reference breakdowns always limit the enlightened choice, especially for black women. Reproductive justice requires access to the complete spectrum of care.

Move the standard

BHM: If you had unlimited resources to reshape fibroid care for black women, what would your first move? What is the only thing between current reality and a future where treatment disparities no longer exist?

Dr Shukla: The only thing is between current reality and the future is access to these patients. The only thing I would focus on is to educate patients directly, those who are most encouraged to deal with their conditions safely and effectively, in this case, with a mini-invasive alternative to surgery. I believe that the reference model remains an obstacle for patients to access an interventional radiologist for these discussions.

If I had unlimited resources, I would launch a national campaign with the help of influential Indivitis, including legislators, celebrities and influencers, to increase the awareness of this procedure to the point where patients are requiring references. If we generate enough data suggesting disparities, we can hope to initiate discussions with the main media to help increase awareness.

Resources

Are black women more likely to obtain fibroids?

Sir Resource Patient on uterine fibroids includes the results of the national survey on patient awareness – endovascular today

Understanding racial disparities for women with uterine fibroids

The white dress project

Uterine fibroid resources | Radiology Health Equity Coalition

The survey reveals that most women with uterine fibroids are offered hysterectomies on mini-invasive treatments | Interventional radiology society

The largest embolization study of the uterine artery confirms the outpatient success of fibroids | Fibroid Fighters