By Victoria Mejicanos
AFRO Intern
Heavy bleeding, pelvic pain and rapid weight gain are all symptoms of uterine fibroids, a condition that can have serious implications for a woman’s fertility and overall well-being. The noncancerous growths in or on the uterus aren’t spoken about as much as other medical conditions but they are incredibly common, especially for Black women.
By age 50, about 80 percent of Black women have experienced fibroids compared to 70 percent of White women, the National Institutes of Health reported. Black women are also more likely to need treatment.
Dr. Nicola London, an experienced obstetrician and gynecologist (OB-GYN), said not only are fibroids common, but also hereditary, meaning Black women need to be proactive about knowing their risk.
“Some of the older population, they don’t like to talk about, they don’t want to talk about anything,” said London. “But that would be something for young patients to say to their mom: ‘Hey, Mom, you had a hysterectomy. Why did you have a hysterectomy?’”
However common fibroids may be, their cause is not often studied and still largely unknown. On July 15, U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) joined Congresswomen Shontel Brown (D-Ohio-11) and Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.-09) in supporting the Uterine Fibroid Intervention and Gynecological Health Treatment (U-FIGHT) Act. The bill is part of a larger legislative package aimed at advancing uterine health initiatives like fibroids and uterine cancer.
Tanika Gray Valbrun, whose journey included years of heavy bleeding, cramping, chronic stress, a miscarriage and three myomectomies (the surgical removal of fibroids, in her case 43), praised the package.
“The reintroduction of these critical bills is much more than legislation. It is a declaration that our health matters, our voices matter, and our lives matter,” said Valbrun, founder of The White Dress Project, an advocacy group.
Dr. London shared that fibroids can also have serious impacts on fertility, particularly when located inside the uterus (submucosal), where they can cause miscarriage or affect embryo implantation. Others may lead to complications like preterm labor or fetal growth restriction. If left untreated, fibroids can grow large enough to press on organs, causing issues like back pain, constipation, urinary incontinence or even kidney damage from blocked ureters.
Myomectomies can remove the growths and medications can help shrink them, but in extreme cases a hysterectomy may be needed.
“For too long, uterine fibroids have plagued women, particularly Black women. We need to invest in research, raise public awareness, and develop programs for early treatment. No woman should have to suffer in silence. Congresswoman Brown has been a leader in this space for years, and I’m proud to join her in this fight,” said Sen. Alsobrooks.
Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o also threw her considerable star power behind the cause and the legislation, joining the lawmakers on Capitol Hill, and posting about the issue on social media.
“In 2014 at the age of 31, I received my uterine fibroid diagnosis and was offered only two options: invasive surgery to remove them or live with the pain,” said Nyong’o in a statement. “I envision a different future: one with early education for teenagers, better prevention and screening protocols, robust research and less invasive treatments for uterine fibroids. But transformation begins with understanding, and understanding requires research. I’m grateful to the bill sponsors for leading the way to that future and am committed to supporting this package of legislation.”