Black Women’s Health

“Black women have higher rates of many illnesses,
such as hypertension, breast cancer at young ages,
diabetes, stroke, and lupus”.1

Umbrella

What may the Black Women’s Health Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • African American Women’s Health
  • Women’s Health
  • Women’s Health Conditions/Diseases/Issues

Illnesses

What illnesses do black women have higher rates of?

In About the Black Women’s Health Study the (United States) Boston University Sloane Epidemiology Center elaborate on:

“Black women have higher rates of many illnesses, such as hypertension, breast cancer at young ages, diabetes, stroke, and lupus”.2

Heart Disease

Is there an association between African American women and heart disease?

In Heart Disease: Why African American Women Need To Take Their Hearts To Heart, dated 10 April 2025, the (United States) Mayo Clinic elaborates on:

“Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in women in the U.S. African American women have an even higher risk of dying from heart disease ― and at a younger age ― than white women, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. Each year, more African American women die from heart disease than breast cancer, lung cancer and strokes — combined”.3

High Blood Pressure

Is there an association between Black women and high blood pressure?

In About the Issue: The Pressure Is Real the (United States) Release the Pressure explain:

“High blood pressure is the leading driver of heart disease and stroke and it disproportionately affects Black women, women of color and women in rural and undeserved communities”.4

Diabetes

What is the association between Black women and diabetes?

On page 29 in A Roadmap for Change: Black Women’s National Health Policy Agenda 2025–2026 – V. Chronic and Rare Diseases: Diabetes, published December 2025, the Black Women’s Health Imperative (BWHI) include:

“Diabetes is a public health issue that disproportionately impacts Black women. Black women are nearly 1.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes and face a 1.5 times higher risk of dying from the disease. Diabetes often leads to additional health complications, including heart disease, kidney disease, and vision loss”.5

Menopause

What is the menopause experience of Black women?

On page seven in A Roadmap for Change: Black Women’s National Health Policy Agenda 2025–2026 – Research At BWHI: Black Women’s Perimenopause and Menopause Survey the (United States) BWHI note:

“The Research: During the menopausal transition, Black women often experience an earlier onset, longer duration, and more severe symptoms, such as hot flashes, which affect 79% of Black women compared to 65% of White women. Black women are also less likely to seek medical care or utilize available resources for menopausal symptoms, though the reasons for this disparity are poorly understood”.6

Health Care Provider

Even if I feel fine, do I still need to see my health care provider regularly?

Even if you feel fine, it may be in your best interest to choose to see your health care provider regularly. In Health Screenings for Women Ages 40 To 64: Information the (United States) MedlinePlus elaborate on:

“Even if you feel fine, you should still see your provider for regular checkups. These visits can help you avoid problems in the future. For example, the only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked regularly. High blood sugar and high cholesterol levels also may not have any symptoms in the early stages. A simple blood test can check for these conditions”.7

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics A-Z related to Black Women’s Health?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Black Women’s Health?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

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  6. Black History Month [February]
  7. Black Joy: Impacting the Mental Health of Black Communities
  8. Black Women Vote: National Health Policy Agenda 2020 – 2021
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  10. Black Women’s Health Imperative
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  13. Black Women’s Health Study
  14. Black and Rare: Scleroderma In the African-American Community [+ Video]
  15. CYL2 Change Your Lifestyle. Change Your Life.
  16. Celebrate Sisterhood
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  19. Cervical Cancer Prevention Week [19-25 January 2026, United Kingdom]
  20. Consumer Video and Podcast Series: 2023 Consumer Videos and Podcasts – Premature and Early Menopause
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  24. Depression May Look Different In Black Women
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  26. Disparities In Reproductive Aging and Midlife Health Between Black and White Women: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN)
  27. Elevating the Impacts of Autoimmune Disease and Black Women’s Health
  28. EmPOWERED To Serve
  29. FairWork [Black Women’s Health Imperative, United States]
  30. Female Genital Mutilation
  31. Fibroid Foundation [United States]
  32. Fibroids.bwhi.org
  33. Fibroids – Symptoms, Solutions, and Self-Advocacy
  34. First Nations Resources [Australia]
    Black Women’s Health
  35. Forward [Foundation of Women’s Health Research and Development, United Kingdom]
  36. From Awareness To Action: A Guide To Women’s Health Advocacy
  37. Get Your Well-Woman Visit Every Year
  38. Good Heart Health In Middle Age May Preserve Brain Function Among Black Women As They Age
  39. Goredforwomen.org [Go Red for Women, United States]
  40. Health Care Concerns In Women At Midlife: Differences By Race, Ethnicity, and Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status
  41. Black Women’s Health Health Checks for Women
  42. Health Checkup
  43. Health Disparities In Preventive Screenings for African Americans
  44. Health Screenings for Women Ages 40 To 64
  45. Health Screenings for Women Over Age 65
  46. Heart Disease In Black Women: The Big Issue You Might Not Know About
  47. Heart Disease: Why African American Women Need To Take Their Hearts To Heart
  48. How Black Women Can Take Control of Their Blood Pressure
  49. How To Start A Self-Care Routine
  50. Iamhivpossible.org [I Am HIV Possible, Black Women’s Health Imperative]
    Black Women's Health
  51. International Day for People of African Descent [31 August]
  52. International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation [06 February 2025]
    Black Women’s Health
  53. June Is Uterine Cancer Awareness Month
  54. Life Changing Impact With Our CYL2 Diabetes Prevention Program
  55. Lupus.org [Lupus Foundation of America]
  56. May Is Osteoporosis Awareness and Prevention Month!
    Black Women’s Health
  57. May Is Pelvic Pain Awareness Month
  58. Mayo Clinic Minute: Diet and Heart Disease In the Black Community [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  59. Mayo Clinic Minute: Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease In the Black Community [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
    MM
  60. Mayo Clinic Minute: Preventing Cancer for Future Generations of Black Families [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  61. Mayo Clinic Minute: Sickle Cell Disease Explained [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  62. Mayo Clinic Minute: Why Black Americans Are At Higher Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  63. Mayo Clinic Minute: Why Black Women Need To Be Screened for Cervical Cancer [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  64. Mayo Clinic Minute: Why Black Women Should Consider Screening for Breast Cancer Earlier [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  65. Mensroom.bwhi.org [The Men’s Room, United States]
  66. Meperiod.info [Me Period]
  67. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Women’s Health and Complementary Approaches
  68. National Diabetes Prevention Program [United States]
  69. National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities [United States]
  70. National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NWGHAAD) 2024
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    Black Women’s Health
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    Office on Women’s Health
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  74. Ncbw.org [National Coalition of Black Women, United States]
  75. New Menopause Information for First Nations Communities [Australia]
    Black Women’s Health
  76. New Report: Breast Cancer Now Leading Cause of Cancer Death In African American/Black Women
  77. Office of Women’s Health [Womenshealth.gov, United States]
  78. On Our Own Terms (OOOT)

  79. Rarediseasediversity.org [RDDC Rare Disease Diversity Coalition]
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  82. Sickle Cell Anemia
  83. Sistersnetworkinc.org [Sisters Network Inc, United States]
  84. Sister’s With Superpowers Presented By BWHI: Centering Black Women and Their Sexual Health [Video]
  85. The Endometriosis Resource Portal for People of Color
    Black Women’s Health
  86. The Menopause Resource Hub [Black Women’s Health Imperative, United States]
  87. The Rare Disease Diversity Coalition [United States]
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    Black Women’s Health
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    Black Women’s Health
  98. World GO Day [World Gynecologic Oncology Day, 20 September 2024]
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Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. About the Black Women’s Health Study. Boston University Sloane Epidemiology Center https://www.bu.edu/bwhs/ Accessed: 22 December 2025
  2. About the Black Women’s Health Study. Boston University Sloane Epidemiology Center https://www.bu.edu/bwhs/ Accessed: 22 December 2025
  3. Heart Disease: Why African American Women Need To Take Their Hearts To Heart. 10 April 2025. Mayo Clinic https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/heart-disease-why-african-american-women-need-to-take-their-hearts-to-heart/ Accessed: 22 December 2025
  4. About the Issue: The Issue  Is Real. Release the Pressure https://releasethepressure.org/about-the-issue/ Accessed: 22 December 2025
  5. A Roadmap for Change: Black Women’s National Health Policy Agenda 2025–2026 – V. Chronic and Rare Diseases: Diabetes. 2025:29. Black Women’s Health Imperative https://join.bwhi.org/hubfs/pdfs/BWHI_NHPA_2025-26_v5.pdf Accessed: 22 December 2025
  6. A Roadmap for Change: Black Women’s National Health Policy Agenda 2025–2026 – Research At BWHI: Black Women’s Perimenopause and Menopause Survey. 2025:7. Black Women’s Health Initiative https://join.bwhi.org/hubfs/pdfs/BWHI_NHPA_2025-26_v5.pdf Accessed: 10 December 2025
  7. Health Screenings for Women Ages 40 To 64: Information. Review Date: 21 May 2024. MedlinePlus https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007467.htm Accessed: 22 December 2025
Topic Last Updated: 22 December 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 22 December 2025

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