Abstract
OBJECTIVE: 1) To determine the prevalence of fibroids in asymptomatic young black and white women (ages 18-30 y); 2) to determine other differences in uterine and adnexal anatomy; and 3) to obtain preliminary data for sample size calculations. DESIGN: Pilot cross-sectional study. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENT(S): One hundred one nonparous black and white women, ages 18-30 years, with no known diagnosis of fibroids or clinically suggestive symptoms. INTERVENTION(S): A transvaginal ultrasound was performed in the follicular phase in all subjects. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): 1) Presence of fibroids; 2) endometrial thickness; 3) ovarian findings. RESULT(S): Of the 101 participants (mean age 24.5 ± 3.5 y), 43% self-identified as black and 57% as white. The prevalence of ultrasound-diagnosed fibroids was 15% overall (26% in black women and 7% in white women). The mean fibroid size was 2.3 ± 2.1 cm. There was a significant difference in endometrial thickness between races, even after adjusting for contraception use and fibroid presence. CONCLUSION(S): Racial differences in fibroid prevalence exist even before women become symptomatic. Findings of thicker endometrium in black women could have clinical implications and warrants further investigation.