Congresswoman Tubbs Jones joins Senator Mikulski to Fight for
Increased Funding for Uterine Fibroid Research & Education

 Legislation to Double Funding at NIH

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones and Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) hosted a press conference call to announce the re-introduction of the Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act of 2005. This legislation would double federal funding for uterine fibroid research at the National Institute of Health (NIH).  Additionally, the bill would also fund a public education campaign on the condition.  Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) is introducing identical legislation in the U.S. Senate.

“While three quarters of all reproductive age women have uterine fibroids, little is known about them and few good treatment options are available,” said Representative Tubbs Jones.  “Right now, hysterectomy is the most common treatment for uterine fibroids, accounting for 200,000 (or 30%) of all hysterectomies in the United States.  Women deserve better. I am introducing the Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act to find new and better ways to treat or even cure uterine fibroids.  Since my first days in Congress, I have been fighting to make sure women don’t get left out or left behind when it comes to their health.  This legislation will address this silent epidemic among American women.”

It is estimated that three in every four American women have uterine fibroids, with one in four women seeking medical care for the condition.  African American women are three to nine times more likely to develop uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids are the most common cause of hysterectomies in the United States. According to a study by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, there is “a remarkable lack of high quality evidence supporting the effectiveness of most interventions for symptomatic fibroids.”

The Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act of 2005 will:

•  Expand and Coordinate Research on Uterine Fibroids at NIH

Basic research is needed to find out what causes uterine fibroids, why some women experience far worse symptoms than others, and why African American women are disproportionately affected.  This legislation would expand research on uterine fibroids at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and would coordinate efforts through the Office of Research on Women’s Health.

• Authorize $10 Million for Uterine Fibroid Research Each Year for 5 Years

Despite a budget of over $27 billion, NIH spent only $5 million on uterine fibroids last year.  This legislation would double the funding for uterine fibroids research at NIH, providing the investment needed to jumpstart basic research and lay the groundwork to find a cure.

• Educate Health Care Providers About Uterine Fibroids
   
  According to a 1999 survey conducted by the Society for Women's Health Research, as many as one-third of women who have hysterectomies do so without discussing potential alternatives with their doctors.  This bill will make sure women can count on their doctors for information about the best possible treatment for uterine fibroids
  
•  Establish a Public Education Campaign for Patients

Women need to know the facts to make good health care decisions and take control of their health.  The Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act of 2003 will get the word out to women about uterine fibroids and ways they can be treated.