Health Advocate and Fibroid Fighter Kym Lee-King is speaking out about her painful experience with uterine fibroids, urging other women to stop suffering in silence and overcome the shame and embarrassment often associated with the condition. 

Lee-King, who was diagnosed in 2014, recounted a harrowing experience to News4, describing a medical emergency that required her husband to find her in a pool of blood. “I was bleeding profusely, and that’s what happens with so many women,” she said.

Admitting that she initially ignored her diagnosis out of embarrassment, Lee-King saw her condition worsen significantly over three years. By the time she sought treatment, her fibroids had grown in size, ranging from pea-sized to as large as melons.

Fibroids, which are non-cancerous tumors in the uterus, affect an estimated 70-80% of women before the age of 50. 

Lee-King’s testimony supports Prince George’s County Councilwoman Wala Blegay, who also battled the condition, and pushes for new legislation. The proposed bill aims to protect women in the workplace by allowing them to request time off when experiencing severe symptoms and mandating staff education to reduce the stigma surrounding the diagnosis.

For Lee-King, the push for workplace protection is an important step toward ensuring no other woman feels forced to hide her health struggles.

“I wanted to share the message with women around the country about the importance of not suffering in silence,” Lee-King said. “I suffered in silence.”

To watch the full story on News4 Washington, click here.