Black women face higher rates of uterine fibroids compared to white women. They’re less likely to get accurate diagnoses for endometriosis. 

And they’re twice as likely to die from uterine cancer than white women. 

Dr. Kemi Doll considers these disparities part of the evidence for a broader health crisis in gynecological care for Black women.

Why hasn’t the medical community done more to address these problems? And how can patients and practitioners navigate a system that consistently overlooks Black women? 

Doll's new book, "A Terrible Strength: The Hidden Crisis of the Black Womb and Your Survival Guide to Healing,” works to answer those questions. 

Guest: Dr. Kemi Doll, aprofessor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Washington and the author of "A Terrible Strength."

Related links:
A Terrible Strength by Kemi Doll | Penguin Random House 
Spotlighting a common female cancer, and a health disparity - UW Medicine Newsroom
Why Black women are at greater risk for fibroids and endometrial cancer | Scientific American
Understanding the gynecological health crisis facing Black women | Science Friday

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Black women face <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/13/well/live/uterine-fibroids-black-women.html">higher rates of uterine fibroids </a>compared to white women. They&rsquo;re <a href="https://www.wgbh.org/news/health/2025-02-28/black-women-with-endometriosis-are-often-gaslit-at-the-doctors-office">less likely to get accurate diagnoses</a> for endometriosis.&nbsp;
And they&rsquo;re <a href="https://divisionofresearch.kaiserpermanente.org/uterine-cancer-rates-black-women/">twice as likely to die from uterine cancer</a> than white women.&nbsp;
Dr. Kemi Doll considers these disparities part of the evidence for a broader health crisis in gynecological care for Black women.
Why hasn&rsquo;t the medical community done more to address these problems? And how can patients and practitioners navigate a system that consistently overlooks Black women?&nbsp;
Doll's new book, "A Terrible Strength: The Hidden Crisis of the Black Womb and Your Survival Guide to Healing,&rdquo; works to answer those questions.&nbsp;
Guest:&nbsp;Dr. Kemi Doll, a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Washington and the author of "A Terrible Strength."
Related links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/775526/a-terrible-strength-by-kemi-doll-md-mscr/">A Terrible Strength by Kemi Doll | Penguin Random House&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://newsroom.uw.edu/blog/spotlighting-common-female-cancer-and-health-disparity/">Spotlighting a common female cancer, and a health disparity - UW Medicine Newsroom</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/why-black-women-are-at-greater-risk-for-fibroids-and-endometrial-cancer/">Why Black women are at greater risk for fibroids and endometrial cancer | Scientific American</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/gynecologic-health-crisis-for-black-women-improving-uterine-health/">Understanding the gynecological health crisis facing Black women | Science Friday</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

In "A Terrible Strength," Dr. Doll explores the disparities that Black women experience in their gynecological health care and what can be done to close that gap. 