Uterine discomfort and heavy bleeding has been a constant presence in Renee Brown Small’s life.

“I was in my 20’s and I couldn’t go to the beach with my girlfriends because of the bleeding,” says Small.

Small is one of many African American women who suffer with fibroids— non-cancerous uterine tumors that can grow as large as a cantaloupe and often cause pelvic pain, along with other symptoms.The prevalence of fibroids — especially among African American women, who develop them at a higher rate — was a topic of discussion at the recent White House sponsored United State of Women Summit.

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/black-women-await-more-federal-research-fibroids-n598661