Good Blood Pressure Control Linked to Lower Risk of Uterine Fibroids

Women who keep their blood pressure under control may lower their risk of developing Uterine Fibroids, a new study finds. Uterine Fibroids are benign yet painful growths that affect up to 80% of women by the age of 50.

The study included more than 2,500 middle-aged women with no history of Fibroids at the start. Researchers tracked their blood pressure and health status for up to 17 years and found that patients with new-onset hypertension had a 45% increased risk of newly reported fibroids. In contrast, those who treated their hypertension with medication had 37% lower odds of developing Fibroids.

The results also showed that women who used one class of medication, called ACE inhibitors, experienced a larger 48% decline in risk. The researchers say the exact reasons for the link between blood pressure and Fibroids aren't clear. However, if the associations are causal, hypertensive medication use, where indicated, may present an opportunity to prevent fibroid development at this high-risk life stage.