Uterine fibroids, muscular tumors that grow in the wall of the uterus, are the most common tumors in women, affecting 70% of white women and 90% of Black women by the age of 50. 

Fibroids, known medically as leiomyoma or just "myoma", can be as small as an apple seed or as big as a grapefruit, and are almost always not cancerous. They can grow as single tumors or as multiple tumors, and not all women with fibroids will develop symptoms or require treatment. 

Research on the causes of fibroids lags considering their impact, but the National Institutes of Health have recently published information on genetic testing that could be used to estimate someone’s risk for developing uterine fibroids which would provide valuable information about how these tumors develop and new ways to treat or prevent them. Further, we still cannot pinpoint why Black women are more susceptible to fibroids. 

While we wait for improved diagnostic testing, we need to open the conversation and educate and advocate for women with uterine fibroids. Thanks to organizations such as the White Dress Project, a nonprofit that is working to destigmatize the condition by providing education and networking resources, more women getting access to information. 

A recent patient told me that when I diagnosed her fibroids she was surprised, but relieved that there was a cause for her symptoms. Then she went home only to discover that her aunts and others in the family also struggled with them. Her family never discussed issues with fibroids. 

“If we had those conversations when I was younger, I would have sought help sooner because I would have known what signs to look out for and I would not have normalized my symptoms," she said. 

Women trying to understand their risk of developing fibroids – and their options if they’re diagnosed – are often thwarted by misinformation. Misconceptions also create stigma about fibroids that often cause those struggling with this condition to suffer in silence. That is why it is crucial to discuss these symptoms in detail with your gynecologist. 

Many women with fibroids never notice anything amiss, but approximately 25% to 50% struggle with heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pressure, pelvic pain, and frequent urination, which can lead to significant impact on quality of life, reproductive health issues, and lower work productivity.  

July is Fibroid Awareness Month. If you have been told that it’s normal to live with life-altering symptoms, it’s time to stop the suffering. It’s not normal and you are not alone. Talk to your family, friends and clinical providers to break down the walls of silence surrounding this condition. Create safe places to share your story with others who have had similar experiences. Your gynecologist can work with you to help you understand the different treatment options, then the two of you can work together to choose the options that are right for you. Through these conversations we will begin to enact change to fight the fibroid epidemic.