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Fibroids from relaxers is a real and documented concern — here's what the evidence shows at a glance:
| Key Fact | What the Research Says |
|---|---|
| Increased fibroid risk | Women who ever used hair relaxers were 17% more likely to develop fibroids |
| Heavy use risk | Using relaxers 7+ times per year raised risk by 23% |
| Who's most affected | Up to 80-90% of Black women develop fibroids by age 50 |
| Why it matters | 94% of women in the Black Women's Health Study had used relaxers for at least one year |
| The mechanism | Chemicals like phthalates and parabens may be absorbed through scalp burns and disrupt hormones |
| Cancer link | Frequent users face more than double the risk of uterine cancer compared to non-users |
Millions of women — disproportionately Black women — use chemical hair relaxers regularly, often starting in childhood. What many don't know is that the chemicals inside these products may be quietly affecting their reproductive health.
A landmark study tracking over 23,000 premenopausal Black women from 1997 to 2009 found a clear association between relaxer use and uterine fibroid development. The more frequently women used relaxers, and the longer they used them, the higher their risk climbed.
This isn't just a cosmetic issue. It's a health and justice issue.
My name is Tim Burd, and through my legal services work connecting people with the right attorneys for medical product harm cases, I've seen how many women are only now learning about the potential link between fibroids from relaxers and the products they've trusted for years. If you or someone you love has been affected, understanding the full picture is the first step toward making informed decisions about your health and your rights.
Fibroids from relaxers word roundup:
Uterine fibroids, scientifically known as leiomyomas or myomas, are noncancerous growths that develop in or on the muscular walls of the uterus. While they aren't cancerous, they are far from "harmless." They can range in size from a tiny seedling to bulky masses that can distort and enlarge the uterus, sometimes growing large enough to reach the ribcage.
In our work at Justice Hero, we often see how these medical issues intersect with systemic disparities. The statistics regarding fibroids in the Black community are staggering. Research indicates that 80% of Black women develop fibroids over their lifetime. Some estimates even suggest that up to 90% of African American women will develop them by age 50.
The question of why Black women are three times more likely to be diagnosed with fibroids than white women remains a subject of intense study. We do know that fibroids are "estrogen-responsive," meaning they thrive and grow when exposed to higher levels of estrogen. This is where the concern regarding chemical hair straighteners comes into play. Because Black women are the primary consumers of these products — with some studies showing 94% of participants in the Black Women’s Health Study reporting use — researchers began looking at whether the chemicals in relaxers were acting as a "fuel" for these growths.
Furthermore, Black women tend to be diagnosed at a younger age and experience more severe symptoms than women of other races. This often leads to higher rates of hospitalization and more invasive surgical interventions. In fact, Black women lead the world in hysterectomy rates, the vast majority of which are performed to treat fibroids. If you believe your diagnosis is linked to long-term chemical exposure, you may want to learn more info about hair relaxer lawsuits.
For many women, fibroids are silent. But for others, they are a source of chronic pain and disruption. The symptoms can be debilitating, affecting everything from your ability to work to your intimate relationships. Common symptoms include:
While fibroids are typically benign, there is a very small risk of malignancy. According to the Cleveland Clinic on fibroid malignancy, approximately 1 out of 350 people with fibroids will develop a cancerous growth. If you experience rapid growth of fibroids, especially after menopause, it is critical to see a doctor immediately.
The conversation around fibroids from relaxers isn't just based on anecdotes; it's backed by years of longitudinal research. One of the most significant pieces of evidence comes from an American Journal of Epidemiology study that followed 23,580 premenopausal Black women over a 12-year period.
The findings were clear: women who had ever used hair relaxers had a 17% increased risk of developing uterine fibroids. But the risk didn't stop there. The study revealed a "dose-response" relationship, meaning the more you used the products, the higher the risk became:
This research is supported by the NIEHS Study of Environment, Lifestyle and Fibroids (SELF), which continues to investigate how environmental factors contribute to the high prevalence of fibroids in Black women. For those who have already suffered these health consequences, there is a growing movement toward legal accountability. You can read our guide to hair relaxer settlements to understand how these cases are being valued.
You might wonder how a product applied to your hair can end up affecting your uterus. The answer lies in the scalp. The skin on your scalp is highly vascular, meaning it has a rich supply of blood vessels.
Hair relaxers are notoriously "harsh." Whether they are "lye" (sodium hydroxide) or "no-lye" (calcium hydroxide and guanidine carbonate), they work by breaking down the protein bonds in the hair. This process often causes:
Once these chemicals enter the bloodstream, they can travel throughout the body and interfere with the endocrine system. Research on hormonally active hair products suggests that this percutaneous (through-the-skin) absorption is a primary route for systemic exposure to toxic ingredients.
One of the most concerning aspects of relaxer use is how early it often begins. In many communities, it is a cultural norm to begin relaxing a girl's hair when she is a toddler or in elementary school.
The Sister Study findings highlight a specific risk for "young-onset" fibroids (diagnosed before age 36). The study found that girls who used relaxers between the ages of 10 and 13 had a higher likelihood of developing fibroids early in life. This suggests that the developing endocrine systems of young girls may be particularly vulnerable to the hormone-disrupting chemicals found in these products.
The term "fragrance" on a beauty product label is often a "black box" that hides hundreds of unregulated chemicals. Because the hair care industry is largely self-regulated, manufacturers aren't always required to disclose every ingredient.
Here is a breakdown of the primary chemicals of concern found in many relaxers:
| Chemical Group | Common Use | Hormonal Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Phthalates | Plasticizers / Fragrance carriers | Mimic estrogen; linked to reproductive damage |
| Parabens | Preservatives | Endocrine disruptors that can "fuel" fibroid growth |
| Bisphenol A (BPA) | Often found in packaging | Mimics estrogen and disrupts natural hormone balance |
| Formaldehyde | Straightening agent / Byproduct | Known human carcinogen; linked to uterine cancer |
Journal of the National Cancer Institute research has identified that many of these substances are Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs). These EDCs are particularly dangerous because they don't just "clog" the system; they actively mimic the body's natural hormones, specifically E2 estrogen. For more details on these findings, you can explore the research on chemicals of concern in products for women of color.
To understand why EDCs cause fibroids, we have to look at "Estrogen Dominance." Fibroids have more hormone receptors than normal uterine muscle cells. When EDCs from relaxers enter the body, they mimic estrogen, causing the body to believe it has an excess of the hormone.
This hormone mimicry leads to:
This complex interaction between hormone disruption and beauty products is a major focus of current reproductive health research.
While fibroids from relaxers are a major concern, recent studies have uncovered even more severe risks. In 2022, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a study that sent shockwaves through the beauty industry.
The study found that women who used chemical hair straightening products frequently (more than four times a year) had a uterine cancer risk doubling. Specifically, the risk of developing uterine cancer by age 70 was 1.64% for those who never used straighteners, but jumped to 4.05% for frequent users.
Other health risks associated with these products include:
If you have been diagnosed with any of these conditions after years of relaxer use, it is important to review the latest uterine cancer lawsuit information.
If you are concerned about your health after years of using relaxers, you are not alone. There are steps you can take today to protect your body and seek treatment.
The best way to reduce your risk is to stop using chemical relaxers entirely. Fortunately, the "Natural Hair Movement" has led to an explosion of safer alternatives:
If you already have fibroids, you don't necessarily need a hysterectomy. Modern medicine offers several less invasive options:
It is important to note that FDA regulation gaps mean that "safe" on a label doesn't always mean safe for your hormones. Always do your own research or consult with a specialist. For more on your legal options, see our complete guide to hair straightener lawsuits.
We believe that corporations have a fundamental responsibility to ensure their products are safe. When manufacturers know — or should have known — that their products contain endocrine disruptors but fail to warn consumers, they can be held liable.
Filing a lawsuit isn't just about compensation; it's about corporate accountability. It's about telling these companies that the health of Black women is not an acceptable "cost of doing business." If you're ready to take the next step, you can fill out our hair relaxer contact form for a free evaluation.
Not in the way most people think. While the FDA has authority over cosmetics, they do not "approve" hair products before they hit the shelves. Manufacturers are responsible for their own safety testing. The FDA primarily focuses on labeling requirements and color additives. This lack of pre-market approval is why many harmful chemicals have remained in these products for decades.
The most popular non-surgical option is Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE). Other options include lifestyle changes (like a diet low in processed foods and high in fiber to help manage estrogen) and medications like GnRH agonists that can block the production of estrogen.
Most hair relaxer cases are currently consolidated into a Multidistrict Litigation (MDL 3060) in the Northern District of Illinois. This is different from a class action because each person's injuries are treated individually, but the "discovery" process is shared to make things more efficient. You can check our 2025 hair relaxer lawsuit update for the latest on bellwether trials and case counts.
At Justice Hero, we are committed to simplifying the complex legal world so you can focus on what matters most: your health and your family. The link between fibroids from relaxers is a serious public health issue that has been ignored for too long.
By choosing safer products, advocating for better regulations, and holding negligent manufacturers accountable, we can create a future where beauty doesn't have to come at the expense of our health. If you have been diagnosed with fibroids or cancer after using these products, we are here to help you find the right path forward.
Don't wait to protect your rights. Start your hair relaxer lawsuit claim today and let us help you seek the justice you deserve.
