Supporting Fibroid Awareness Week

April 18,2024

This year during Fibroid Awareness Week, Fibroid Fighters is geared to empowering women with knowledge about uterine fibroids, a prevalent yet often misdiagnosed and overlooked health concern.

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths within the uterus. While some women experience minimal symptoms with small fibroids, others face significant challenges. Heavy bleeding, anemia, frequent urination, and overall pain are just some of the unpleasant effects fibroids can cause.

Are You at Risk?

While there is ongoing research, the exact cause of fibroids is still unknown. However, certain factors can increase your risk of developing fibroids, such as:

Early menstruation
Family history of fibroids
African American descent
Elevated estrogen and progesterone levels
Birth control
Vitamin D deficiency

Treatment Options: Beyond Surgery

In the past, treatments for fibroids often meant major surgeries like hysterectomy, which removes the entire uterus, and myomectomy, which removes only the fibroids themselves. While a hysterectomy is a definitive solution, it requires a long recovery and isn’t suitable for women who might want to get pregnant in the future.

With the advancements in medicine, there are now minimally invasive options like uterine fibroid embolization (UFE). UFE is a safer and more effective alternative to traditional surgeries for many women.

Uterine fibroid embolization shrinks fibroids by cutting off their blood supply. Interventional radiologists use imaging technology to guide a catheter to the fibroid artery, blocking blood flow and causing the fibroids to shrink.

Minimally invasive: Compared to traditional surgeries, UFE offers a shorter recovery time with less discomfort.
Preserves the uterus: Unlike a hysterectomy, UFE leaves the uterus intact, allowing for future pregnancies.
No incisions or marks

Take our quick symptom checker below to see if you might be at risk:

Fibroid Fighters Symptom Checker

Why Awareness Matters

Fibroids affect a large population of women, but often go unnoticed and undiagnosed. Early detection is key to discussing treatment options and improving your quality of life.

By raising awareness, we empower women to:

Advocate for themselves
Explore minimally invasive procedures
Manage their symptoms effectively

Fibroid Awareness Week is a powerful reminder that we’re not alone. We should pave the way to deconstruct the stigma around uterine fibroids, raise our voices, and find the support we need to manage fibroids effectively.

For more information and resources, visit our resource center, where you can find info on the latest news, blogs, newsletters and fibroid symptom checkers.

We invite you to share your personal journey with fibroids to provide motivation and hope for others. Visit Share Your Story.