Johnson to Spread Awareness About Fibroid Disease By Sharing Her Story
Shay Johnson – urban model, reality television personality and fitness guru – has been named an Ambassador for Fibroid Fighters to help spread awareness about fibroid disease that affects 26 million American women annually.
“At one point, when I had to say the word, fibroids, I was terrified, because I had memories of my symptoms and what I had to go through,” the Love & Hip Hop Miami star said, who wants to bring attention to a condition that she says isn’t talked about enough. Uterine fibroids are abnormal growths that develop in or on a woman’s uterus. Studies suggest that more than 80 percent of African American and 70 percent of Caucasian women will develop fibroids by age 50.1
Johnson’s fibroid ordeal began after she fainted and hit her head. “I was scared and said it was time to go to the hospital.” There she tried to understand her symptoms that included “blood clots, fainting spells, and why I constantly was in the bathroom.”
Johnson was diagnosed with uterine fibroids, which she learned is a common condition, although like most women, she had never heard of it. “I realized after doing research that I had symptoms that began in my twenties, and even pelvic pain that started earlier,” Johnson said. “I believe that I had fibroids back in my teens but because we’re taught to be hush-hush about our menstrual cycles, I had no one to talk to.”
“Dealing with fibroids was the most painful, depressing experience ever,” said Johnson who had a myomectomy, but still suffers with fibroid symptoms. “I realized that I could help others by sharing my story,” she said. “The more we speak up and speak out about fibroids, we bring awareness to women who are going through the same issue. The more we know, we can help prevent miscarriages, the extended periods, the pelvic pain, and have treatment options.”
“Shay Johnson will help us spotlight the critical need for awareness and education ” said Fibroid Fighters’ Founder and CEO Yan Katsnelson, M.D. “Women need to know there are non-surgical procedure treatment options such as Uterine Fibroid Embolism (UFE) that preserves the uterus and allows women relief from painful symptoms.”
Currently, treatment of fibroid disease often results in surgeries, infertility, pregnancy loss and hysterectomies. More hysterectomies are done because of fibroids than any other problem of the uterus, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health, with one in three women having had a hysterectomy by age 60.2
In her role as a Fibroid Fighters Ambassador, Johnson wants to encourage women to share their stories about suffering from fibroid disease and how it affected them. She wants to ensure that women, especially young women, understand treatment procedures that safeguards their reproductive health.
“We need to liberate women in a way in which they can get answers and understand they have options to treat painful fibroids,” Dr. Katsnelson said. “We need to change the perception that living with fibroids is normal.”
About Fibroid Fighters
The Fibroids Fighters Foundation is a public welfare organization created to advance women’s health and awareness about safe, effective uterine fibroids treatment. Its mission is to educate the American public about the health, social and economic damages caused by uterine fibroids, focusing on research and advances in fibroid disease treatment.
1. The Health Disparities of Uterine Fibroids for African American Women: A Public Health Issue
2. Illinois Dept. of Public Health: Facts About Hysterectomy
Media Contact:
Susan Swartz
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