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What Causes Fibroids? Understanding the Root Causes
Quick answer: No single cause is known, but research points to a combination of factors: hormones (estrogen and progesterone), age, family history, body weight, and — for reasons still being studied — Black and Nigerian women are up to three times more likely to develop fibroids than other groups. Diet and Vitamin D levels also appear to play a role. This is exactly why we ask "why did this grow" before "how do I shrink it."
When I was living with my own 12cm fibroid, the question that consumed me wasn't just "how do I get rid of this" — it was "why is this happening to my body at all." Most conversations skip straight past that question. I don't think that's right, so here's what's actually understood about what causes fibroids to grow.
Hormones are the main driver
Fibroids are under hormonal control — mainly estrogen and progesterone. This is why fibroids often grow faster during pregnancy, when hormone levels are high, and typically shrink after menopause, when hormone levels drop. If your hormones are running on an imbalance, that's a real, biologically grounded reason fibroids can take hold and keep growing.
The other risk factors, explained
1
AgeRisk increases as you get older, through your reproductive years
2
Family historyIf fibroids run in your family, you're more likely to develop them too, sometimes faster-growing ones
3
Body weightFat cells produce estrogen, so higher body weight is linked to higher circulating estrogen and fibroid risk
4
Race and ethnicityBlack women are up to three times more likely to develop fibroids than women of other races — see below
5
DietDiets high in red meat and processed food, and low in vegetables, are linked to higher risk
6
Vitamin D levelsLow Vitamin D has been linked to fibroids in multiple studies
Why this matters so much for Nigerian women specifically
This isn't a small statistical footnote — Black women are documented as being up to three times more likely to develop uterine fibroids than women of other races, and tend to develop them earlier and sometimes more severely. Researchers are still studying exactly why, but genetics, hormonal differences, and diet are all part of that ongoing research. What it means practically is: if you're a Nigerian woman with fibroid symptoms, you're dealing with something your body may genuinely be more predisposed to — it isn't something you did wrong.
"I stopped asking only 'how do I shrink this fibroid?' and started asking 'why did it grow in the first place?'"
Why "root cause first" makes sense given all this
Look at that list again: hormones, weight, diet, Vitamin D — several of these are things your body's overall condition genuinely influences, alongside factors like age and genetics that you can't change. That's the entire premise behind a root-cause-first approach: supporting hormonal balance and overall body health alongside the fibroid itself, not pretending the fibroid exists in isolation from the rest of your body. It's also why consistency over months matters more than any single "quick fix" — these are gradual, whole-body factors, not a switch to flip overnight.
I want to be direct: none of this is a guaranteed cure, and I'm not a doctor. But understanding why a fibroid may have developed is what shaped the entire approach behind TrueWonder Herbs, because it's what changed things for me personally. Read more about that approach here.
This guide is for general educational purposes and isn't medical advice. Fibroid causes and risk factors vary and research is ongoing. Please speak with a qualified healthcare provider about your own risk factors and situation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main cause of fibroids?
No single cause is known. Researchers believe fibroid growth is driven mainly by the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which is why fibroids often grow during high-hormone periods like pregnancy and shrink after menopause. Age, family history, body weight, and diet all appear to influence risk alongside hormones.
Why are Black and Nigerian women more likely to get fibroids?
Research consistently shows Black women are up to three times more likely to develop uterine fibroids than women of other races, and tend to develop them earlier and more severely. The exact reason isn't fully settled, but genetics, hormonal differences, and possibly diet and environmental factors are all being studied as contributors.
Can diet actually affect fibroid growth?
There's real research linking diets high in red meat and processed food, and low in vegetables, to higher fibroid risk, along with low Vitamin D levels. Diet alone isn't established as a cause or cure, but it's one of the few risk factors you actually have some control over, which is why it's part of a root-cause-first approach.
→ See Our Root-Cause-First Support Plans