What Are Risk Factors For Uterine Fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are classified as benign, meaning a non-cancerous type of tumor. But, that does not mean fibroids are always without issues. While some women with uterine fibroids do not experience any symptoms or discomfort whatsoever, the same cannot be said for all women. Depending on the size and location of the uterine fibroids, women who experience symptoms from their fibroids report being impacted in one or more of the following ways by their condition:
- Pressure or pain in the pelvic area
- Frequent need to urinate
- Difficulty emptying the bladder
- Constipation
- Backaches
- Leg pain
- Heavy bleeding during periods
- Periods that last for over a week
Although there is no definitive answer to what causes uterine fibroids, studies have been able to pinpoint several risk factors. Because uterine fibroids are the most common tumor to affect the female reproductive system, all women are potentially at risk of developing fibroids, but the following can increase one’s likelihood:
- Age. Risk rises with age during the reproductive years, and fibroids are most often diagnosed in women in their 30s and 40s, before menopause.
- Race. Uterine fibroids disproportionately affect Black women compared to women from other backgrounds.
- Genetics. Someone has a higher likelihood of developing uterine fibroids if another family member has also developed fibroids.
- Starting your period at an early age.
- Beginning menopause at a late age.
- Other factors that can potentially affect someone’s risk of developing uterine fibroids include obesity, Vitamin D deficiency, or a diet of mostly red meat without enough fruits and vegetables.
Is There A Link Between Alcohol Consumption And Uterine Fibroid Risk?
Although more research is needed to conclusively understand the causes of uterine fibroids and the link to alcohol consumption, two studies, in particular, have yielded pertinent results.
One study focused on Black women in the United States, and the potential impact that caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco use could have on this community’s risk of uterine fibroids. The results showed that caffeine and tobacco use were not linked to a Black woman’s overall risk of developing fibroids. The same cannot be said, however, for alcohol, particularly beer: women who drank seven or more beers a week had a higher risk. The researchers suggested that beer may affect the body’s hormones, because it contains phytoestrogens from hops and barley and may raise levels of the hormone prolactin, but this explanation has not been proven.
Another study focused on Italian women and their alcohol habits, and how this can potentially affect their risk of developing uterine fibroids. Most of the Italian women in the study were wine drinkers. (The type of wine specifically was not documented.) This study found no relation between Italian women’s consumption of wine and the risk of developing fibroids. Overall, the research remains mixed: a 2026 review of the available studies found no clear link between drinking alcohol and fibroid risk in general, and it is not yet known whether the type of alcohol matters.
When Should I Seek A Specialist For Uterine Fibroids?
While uterine fibroids can be without symptoms in some patients, and can even naturally shrink in size over time, the same cannot be said for all women with uterine fibroids. If you find that the pain and discomfort from uterine fibroids are impacting your enjoyment of life, it is time to consider your treatment options.
If you are living with uterine fibroids and curious about your nonsurgical alternatives to fibroid treatment, consider 1Fibroid . 1Fibroid is based in New York, with locations in both Manhattan and Queens. We are committed to women’s care and offer nonsurgical options such as medication, hormone therapy, and minimally invasive UFE procedures. If you’re ready to live life without the symptoms of fibroids, call us today at 212-991-9991.
Sources
- A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis on Alcohol Consumption and Uterine Fibroids: An Update from 2017. J Nutr, 2026.
- Alcohol consumption and risk of uterine myoma: A systematic review and meta analysis. PLoS One, 2017.
- Risk of uterine leiomyomata in relation to tobacco, alcohol and caffeine consumption in the Black Women's Health Study. Hum Reprod, 2004.
- Epidemiology of uterine fibroids: a systematic review. BJOG, 2017.
- High cumulative incidence of uterine leiomyoma in black and white women: ultrasound evidence. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2003.
- Uterine fibroids and uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) treatment. Society of Interventional Radiology.