Health Matters
Uterine Fibroids
By Eliud Nthiga
Introduction
In Marketing Africa Magazine Issue MAL / 69 / 2025, Dr. Maureen Owiti wrote on her Gynae Chronicles column about Fibroids and gave strongly emotional stories about women who have undergone severe challenges with fibroids and I thought I should add my voice to experiences I have had dealing with such cases in our health clinic situated at KU plaza, in Nairobi.
We have handled many cases of women having mild to severe cases of gynecological concerns, ranging from blocked fallopian tubes, to ovarian cysts, cervicitis, hormonal imbalances to fibroids. We have used alternative interventions using Traditional Chinese Medicine( TCM) with outstanding results and testimonies from our patients.
To further Dr Owiti’ s discussion, allow me to confine this discourse to Uterine Fibroids and what intervention we offer at our clinic.
Uterine Fibroids as are medically referred are among the most common gynecological conditions affecting women during their reproductive years. These growths are benign tumors that develop from the smooth muscle tissue of the uterus. Although fibroids are non-cancerous, they can cause significant health challenges including heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, infertility, and pregnancy complications.
Globally, fibroids represent one of the most widespread reproductive health conditions. Research suggests that between 20 to 70 % of women of reproductive age develop fibroids, and by the age of fifty as many as 70-80 % of women may have experienced fibroids at some stage in their lives. In terms of population burden, global disease estimates indicate that more than 226 million women were living with fibroids in 2019, with approximately 9-10 million
96 MAL71 / 26 ISSUE new cases diagnosed annually.
Despite this enormous prevalence, many women remain unaware they have fibroids because symptoms vary widely. Some fibroids remain small and silent, while others grow large enough to cause significant medical complications.
Global Burden of Fibroids
Fibroids represent a substantial global health burden. According to international disease studies, more than 120 million women worldwide were estimated to be living with symptomatic fibroids in 2021, making the condition one of the most common benign tumors affecting humans.
The burden of fibroids is not only medical but also economic and social. Women with severe fibroid symptoms often experience heavy menstrual bleeding leading to anemia, chronic fatigue, and reduced work productivity. Studies in several countries estimate that fibroids account for billions of dollars in healthcare costs annually, largely due to surgery, hospital care, and long-term treatment.
Fibroids are also one of the leading reasons for hysterectomy worldwide. In some countries, up to one-third of hysterectomies are performed because of fibroids, highlighting their importance in reproductive health management.
Fibroids in Africa and Kenya
The burden of fibroids appears to be particularly significant among women of African descent. Research indicates that African and African-diaspora women may develop fibroids two to three times more frequently than women in many other populations, and often at younger ages.
Although precise national statistics are limited in many African countries, hospital studies across the continent suggest that fibroids are one of the most common gynecological diagnoses. In Kenya, for example, fibroids are frequently identified among women seeking care for heavy menstrual bleeding or infertility.
Several factors contribute to the limited availability of accurate statistics in Africa. These include limited access to diagnostic imaging, underreporting of reproductive health conditions, and cultural attitudes that sometimes discourage discussion of menstrual disorders. Nevertheless, clinical evidence strongly suggests that fibroids represent a major reproductive health challenge in the region.
Causes of Fibroids
The exact cause of fibroids remains uncertain, but research indicates that several biological mechanisms are involved. Hormonal influence is one of the most important factors. Fibroids are highly responsive to the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which regulate the menstrual cycle and stimulate uterine tissue growth. These hormones appear to promote fibroid development and enlargement during reproductive years. They have partly been associated with family planning agents which are likely to affect the hormonal balance, explaining why they tend to grow during pregnancy, when hormone levels are elevated, and often shrink after menopause, when hormone production declines.
Genetic factors also play a significant role. Studies show that women with a family history of fibroids are significantly more likely to develop the condition themselves. Growth factors within the body may also contribute to fibroid development. These biochemical signals regulate cell growth and tissue repair, but when overactive they may trigger excessive production of fibrous tissue within the uterus.
Lifestyle and environmental factors including dietary patterns may also play a role. For example, obesity is associated with higher estrogen levels because fat tissue converts