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- Don't accept heavy bleeding, chronic pelvic pain, bloating, or fertility issues as normal; seek medical evaluation.
- Fibroids are noncancerous; treatments include medications, uterine artery embolization, radiofrequency ablation, or uterus-preserving surgery.
- Black women more often develop larger or earlier fibroids and face diagnostic and treatment delays; clinicians should address disparities.
- Reproductive specialist Eve LePage warns stigma and symptom minimization cause delays; track cycles and insist on evaluation.
- Early diagnosis can prevent anemia, chronic pain, and fertility problems while expanding less invasive treatment options.
severe. Health experts encourage women to seek medical care for heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, or other persistent symptoms rather than accepting them as a normal part of aging or menstruation.
Millions of women live with uterine fibroids, yet many suffer for years before receiving a diagnosis because painful symptoms are often dismissed as “just part of having a period.”
Fibroids are noncancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus. Health experts estimate that up to 80% of women will develop fibroids during their lifetime, although many never experience symptoms. Others, however, face heavy menstrual bleeding, chronic pelvic pain, bloating, frequent urination, constipation, fertility challenges, and pregnancy complications.
According to reproductive health specialist Eve LePage, many women delay seeking care because reproductive health remains surrounded by stigma and misinformation. She says symptoms are frequently minimized by both society and, in some cases, healthcare providers, allowing fibroids to grow larger before treatment begins.
Medical experts also note that Black women are disproportionately affected. Studies show they are more likely to develop fibroids at younger ages, experience larger and more numerous fibroids, and face delays in diagnosis and treatment.
Fortunately, treatment options have expanded significantly. Depending on the size, location, and severity of symptoms, women may benefit from medications that control pain and bleeding, minimally invasive procedures such as uterine artery embolization or radiofrequency ablation, or surgery that removes fibroids while preserving the uterus. Hysterectomy is no longer the only option for many patients.
Doctors encourage women to track changes in their menstrual cycles and seek medical attention if symptoms interfere with daily life. Early diagnosis can help prevent complications such as anemia, chronic pain, and fertility problems while expanding the range of available treatment options.
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