Heart to Heart… and other body parts

Hello guys, and welcome back to my blog!
September was a whirlwind. My life changed drastically, but in the best way possible. I’m grateful, grounded, and finally finding my rhythm again. This month, I’ll only share one post but stay tuned for November and December’s conversations on inclusion and sustainability.

Now, let’s talk about something deeply personal to me: fibroids.
I know this topic not from textbooks, but from experience. I’ve had fibroids before, and that journey opened my eyes to how little we really understand or talk about this condition that affects millions of women worldwide.

What Are Fibroids?

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the muscular wall of the uterus. You might also hear them called myomas or leiomyomas.

They can be as small as a seed or grow large enough to distort the uterus. Some women have one, others have many. And while they’re not cancer, they can impact you physically, emotionally, and socially. The surprising thing? We still don’t know exactly what causes fibroids. That alone tells you how under-researched women’s health can be. But here’s what researchers do know:

What Causes Fibroids?

• Hormones: Estrogen and progesterone the same hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle seem to fuel fibroid growth. Fibroids have more hormone receptors than normal uterine tissue, which is why they tend to grow during reproductive years and shrink after menopause.
• Genetics: Fibroids often run in families. If your mother had them, your chances would be higher.
• Growth Factors: Certain substances in the body, like insulin-like growth factor (IGF), can encourage tissue growth including fibroids.

The 3 Main Types of Fibroids:

1. Intramural fibroids – grow within the muscular wall of the uterus (the most common type).
2. Subserosal fibroids – grow on the outer surface of the uterus and can press on nearby organs.
3. Submucosal fibroids – grow into the uterine cavity and are often responsible for heavy bleeding and fertility issues.

Known Risk Factors

You’re more likely to develop fibroids if you:

• Are in your 30s or 40s.
• Are Black or of African descent (and I’ll get into this more in a bit)
• Have a family history of fibroids
• Have higher body weight or obesity (linked to higher estrogen levels)
• Eat a diet high in red meat and low in greens or fruit
• Have a Vitamin D deficiency
• Began menstruating at a young age

Research shows that Black women are 2–3 times more likely to develop fibroids, often at younger ages, and with more severe symptoms. While the exact reason as to why black woman are affected more remains unclear, research points to a mix of genetics, hormonal differences, and environmental stressors. Despite this, most studies still center on non-Black populations leaving critical questions unanswered.

Why are they a problem?

Some women live with fibroids and barely notice them. But for others, they can make their daily life miserable. Here’s why:

• Heavy, prolonged menstrual bleeding
• Severe cramps and pelvic pain
• Fatigue from anemia
• Bloating or feeling “full”
• Pain during sex
• Frequent urination (happens when fibroids press on the bladder)
• Fertility problems or complications in pregnancy

Fibroids may be benign, but they are far from harmless. They interfere with work, intimacy, self-esteem, and even a woman’s ability to plan her family. Yet, many women are told to “just manage it” until it becomes unbearable.

So why does It Takes So Long to Get Diagnosed?

For something that can be as disruptive, women live with these symptoms for years without getting a diagnosis. And this can be very frustrating. So why does it take long?

• Normalizing pain: Many women grow up being told that painful periods are “just part of being a woman.”
• Medical dismissal: Women especially Black women are less likely to be believed when they describe their pain.
• Access and awareness: Many people don’t even know what fibroids are, and some can’t afford or access gynecological screening.
• Late investigations: Unless a woman struggles with fertility, doctors might not suggest an ultrasound early enough.

Treatment and Management

The good news is that fibroids can be treated though the best option depends on their size, number, location, and how much they affect your quality of life.
Here are some of the main approaches:

1. Watchful waiting: If your fibroids aren’t causing symptoms, your doctor may suggest regular monitoring through check-ups and ultrasounds.

2. Medication: Drugs can’t remove fibroids but can help control symptoms like heavy bleeding or pain. Hormonal treatments such as birth controls and IUD can be us to shrink fibroids temporarily or balance out your hormones. Also non-hormonal options like tranexamic acid or pain relievers are used to reduce heavy bleeding and discomfort.

3. Non-invasive procedures: MRI-guided focused ultrasound (FUS) uses sound waves to destroy fibroid tissue without surgery. It’s effective for some women with smaller or fewer fibroids.

4. Minimally invasive surgery:

• Uterine artery embolization (UAE) cuts off the blood supply to fibroids, causing them to shrink.
• Laparoscopic or hysteroscopic myomectomy removes fibroids while keeping the uterus intact a common choice for those who still want children.

5. Traditional surgery:

• Abdominal myomectomy (open surgery) is done for large or multiple fibroids.
• Hysterectomy removal of the uterus is the only permanent cure but is considered a last resort.

My Takeaway

Fibroids are a public health issue not a women’s “problem.” They affect fertility, mental health, and quality of life. The silence around them means too many women normalise pain, miscarriages, or exhaustion without ever learning why.

We deserve earlier screening, better treatment options, and conversations that don’t start at crisis level. If you’ve ever been told to “wait it out” or that your pain is “normal” I see you.
Let’s start speaking up, researching harder, and supporting each other more loudly.

🩷 Fibroids may be common, but they shouldn’t be accepted as normal.

Until our next heart to heart conversation…….