In an article published in the January issue of the specialized journal "Fertility and Sterility," the official Journal of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Meharry Medical College gynecologist Ayman Al-Hendy details his research using gene therapy to treat uterine fibroids, a condition that is four times more prevalent in African American women than in women from other ethnic groups.

"This condition is a major issue of health disparity because it puts African American women at a huge disadvantage during their most productive years," says Al-Hendy.

Uterine fibroids occur in nearly 40 percent of reproductive age women beginning in their mid-20s and continuing until menopause. The symptoms are often debilitating and include excessive vaginal bleeding, anemia, fatigue and lack of energy. According to Dr. Al-Hendy, women who suffer from uterine fibroids may lose time from work, have higher medical expenses and often need advanced medical treatment in order to become pregnant, all things that cause both emotional and economic hardship for families.

Dr. Al-Hendy's research, conducted on experimental animals, finds that gene therapy treatment can be confined to the benign fibroid tumor without causing damage to the rest of the uterus. Current treatments usually include invasive surgeries that may result in greater scarring and infertility. And while further experimentation is needed, Dr. Al-Hendy believes his new approach will offer hope and relief to millions of women.

"If we can achieve our research goal, women will see a greater decrease in their symptoms without the need for surgery and be able to preserve their fertility potential at same time" he says. Dr. Al-Hendy's research will continue; the next step will be to move toward clinical trials.

Meharry Medical College's Center for Women's Health Research, Nashville, TN, is also developing other non-surgical treatments for uterine fibroids. Clinical trials are currently being conducted using nutritional supplements and other pharmaceuticals for alternative non-invasive treatment for uterine fibroids.

About Dr. Al-Hendy
Dr. Ayman Al-Hendy is Professor & Vice Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Scientific Director of the Center for Women's Health Research and Associate Director Clinical Research Center at Meharry Medical College. He is also an obstetrician/gynecologist at Nashville General Hospital. Before coming to Meharry, he was a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas. He received his medical education in Egypt and Canada.

About Meharry Medical College
Meharry Medical College is the nation's largest private, independent, historically black academic health center dedicated solely to educating minority and other health professionals. True to its rich heritage, it is a United Methodist Church affiliated institution. The College is particularly well known for its uniquely nurturing, highly effective educational programs; emerging preeminence in health disparities research; culturally sensitive, evidence-based health services; and significant contribution to the diversity of the nation's health professions workforce. Diverse Issues in Higher Education's ranking of institutions annually lists Meharry as a leading national educator of African Americans with M.D. and D.D.S. degrees, and Ph.D. degrees in the biomedical sciences.

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