Why Black women get different care for uterine fibroids
Racial Disparities in Uterine Fibroid Care Pathways
This project compares how Black and White women move from symptoms to diagnosis and treatment for uterine fibroids to find where care delays or higher hysterectomy rates happen.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11284112 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You can expect researchers to follow care "pathways" by looking at medical records and hospital visits from first symptoms through diagnosis and treatment choices, including uterine-sparing options and hysterectomy. They will measure how often urgent care or hospitalization occurs and whether there are delays in diagnosis or starting treatment. The team will also examine community and local health system factors, such as access to specialists and resources, that might influence care patterns. The goal is to identify steps where Black women are more likely to receive different or more invasive treatment so future care can be improved.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Women with a diagnosis of uterine fibroids—particularly Black and White patients whose medical records cover symptom onset through treatment—are the ideal candidates for this work.
Not a fit: People without uterine fibroids, men, or those whose care is entirely outside participating U.S. health systems are unlikely to be included or to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help reduce unnecessary hysterectomies and expand access to uterine-preserving treatments for Black women with fibroids.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has documented higher fibroid rates and hysterectomy use among Black women, but combining detailed care-pathway analysis with community-level factors is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dalton, Vanessa K. — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Dalton, Vanessa K.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.