Shedding Light on Fibroids: Honoring Fibroid Awareness Month with Truth, Healing, and Advocacy
- LaToya Brathwaite-Washington
- Jul 18
- 3 min read
Fibroids are common, but the pain, complications, and concerns they bring are too often brushed aside. July is Fibroid Awareness Month, and it's time to bring the truth forward.
What Are Fibroids?
Fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that grow in or around the uterus. They’re made of muscle and fibrous tissue and can appear as single or multiple growths. Some are small and go unnoticed. Others grow large enough to change the shape of the uterus or press on other organs.
By age 50, up to 80% of Black women and nearly 70% of white women will have fibroids. Black women are three times more likely to be diagnosed, often at younger ages and with more severe symptoms.
Signs and Symptoms
Fibroids don’t always cause symptoms, but when they do, they can impact daily life in real and painful ways.
Some signs to look out for include:
Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding
Pelvic pressure or pain
Pain during sex
Frequent urination or trouble emptying your bladder
Constipation or bloating
Back or leg pain
Difficulty getting or staying pregnant
Living with these symptoms is not something anyone should have to push through. They’re valid reasons to seek answers and care.
Misdiagnosis and Dismissal of Black Women
Black women are not only more likely to have fibroids, but also more likely to be misdiagnosed or ignored when they speak up about their symptoms. What’s often called normal period pain can actually be a sign of something deeper, and too many are sent home without answers or offered extreme treatments without options.
This lack of proper care and listening can delay diagnosis, lead to worsening symptoms, and strip people of choices when it comes to their fertility and overall health.
Speaking up and seeking second opinions is not just your right - it’s a form of protection in a system that doesn’t always put Black health first.
Who Can Help?
If you're dealing with symptoms like these, it’s important to connect with a provider who understands reproductive health. This can be an OB-GYN, a certified nurse-midwife, or a fertility specialist. Ask questions. Trust your gut. If a provider isn’t taking you seriously, find one who will.
You deserve care that listens to you, respects your story, and works with you to find answers.
How Fibroids Affect Fertility
Fibroids can sometimes make it harder to get pregnant or carry a pregnancy to term. Depending on their size and location, they may block the fallopian tubes, change the shape of the uterus, or interfere with embryo implantation.
Fibroids are also linked to increased risk of:
Miscarriage
Preterm birth
Cesarean birth
Not everyone with fibroids has fertility issues, but knowing what’s happening in your body helps you plan and prepare. Early diagnosis and consistent follow-up can make a big difference in your options and outcomes.
Why Following Up Matters
Fibroids don’t always stay the same. They can grow, shrink, or stay steady depending on age, hormone levels, and other factors. That’s why ongoing care matters, not just to treat symptoms but to track changes over time.
Treatment options include:
Hormonal medications
Uterine fibroid embolization
Myomectomy (removal of fibroids)
Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus)
Non-surgical alternatives for certain cases
Understanding your options can prevent unnecessary surgery and help you make informed decisions, especially if you’re planning to have children in the future.
Moving from Silence to Support
Too many people suffer in silence, dealing with pain, fertility struggles, or complicated pregnancies without clear answers. Fibroid Awareness Month is about shifting that. It’s about naming what so many in our communities carry and fighting for better care, better research, and better outcomes.
Every story matters. Every body deserves attention, care, and compassion. Fibroids are common, but untreated pain and uncertainty shouldn’t be.
Healing starts with being heard. And we believe every person should be.
Thank you for this deeply insightful post! It raises vital awareness and brings much-needed compassion to the fibroid conversation. ❤️ For those seeking options, Best Ufe Treatment is a hopeful path toward healing and empowerment. Keep sharing these powerful truths!