MORE than half of all Black women have uterine fibroids, which are non-cancerous tumors that grow in the muscular wall of the uterus. Sisters are three times more likely to have fibroids and are diagnosed at younger ages, between 20 and 50.

Black women also tend to have more fibroids that grow faster and larger than women of other groups.Among the major symptoms of fibroids are heavy periods, anemia, pain, frequent urination, discomfort during intercourse, distortion of the uterus, infant malnutrition during pregnancy and infertility.

There is no known cause for fibroids, which tend to be hereditary and which are associated with obesity and increased estrogen levels.

Women who have fibroids, which shrink at menopause when the estrogen levels drop, should get regular checkups to make sure the tumors aren't getting larger and that more of them haven't developed.The location, size, the woman's age, number of fibroids and whether she wants to become pregnant are factors considered to determine what treatment, if any, is necessary.

Only 10 to 20 percent of women require treatment. Most doctors don't recommend treatment unless the fibroids cause excessive bleeding or pain.Previously, women were given few treatment options to remove fibroids, with the most effective procedure being a hysterectomy, which is major surgery that removes the uterus and sometimes the ovaries--consequently ending fertility. Nearly half of all hysterectomies are related to fibroids.