Welcome to My Fibroid Awareness Series

Have you ever convinced yourself that your period was just “supposed” to be that painful?

Maybe you’ve planned your life around your cycle. Maybe you’ve carried an extra outfit because your flow was unpredictable. Maybe you’ve canceled brunch, skipped work, or stayed curled up in bed with a heating pad thinking, “This is just what being a woman feels like.”

Girl… let’s talk.

July is Fibroid Awareness Month, and over the next few weeks, I’m opening up a conversation that is deeply personal to me. We’ll talk about fibroids, symptoms, treatment options, recovery, and why so many women suffer in silence for years before getting answers.

If sharing my story encourages even one woman to schedule an appointment or advocate for herself, then this series has already done what I hoped it would.

So… What Are Fibroids?

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus. While they’re usually not life-threatening, they can absolutely affect your quality of life.

Some women never experience symptoms, others deal with heavy bleeding, severe cramps, bloating, pelvic pain, frequent urination, painful sex, fatigue, fertility challenges, or even anemia from excessive blood loss.

The scary part? Many women don’t even realize they have them until they become large enough to cause serious problems, and unfortunately, Black women are diagnosed with fibroids at higher rates, often at younger ages and with more severe symptoms.

That’s why these conversations matter.

Why This Is Personal for Me

Years ago, I joined the millions of women navigating a fibroid diagnosis.

Like so many others, I found myself asking questions, researching everything I could find, and trying to understand what was happening to my body. It was overwhelming, emotional, and honestly… lonely at times, but today, I’m happy to say that I’m fibroid-free.

That journey changed me in ways I never expected. It reminded me that our health isn’t something we should push to the bottom of our to-do list. We deserve answers. We deserve doctors who listen. We deserve to feel good in our own bodies.

Being fibroid-free doesn’t mean I stop talking about them.

It means I have a responsibility to help other women recognize the signs sooner than I did.

That’s exactly why this series exists.

Five Reasons You Should Get Checked for Fibroids

1. Heavy periods aren’t something you just have to “deal with.”

If you’re changing pads or tampons every hour, bleeding through your clothes, passing large clots, or your period is controlling your schedule, that’s worth discussing with your healthcare provider.

Your body is trying to tell you something.

2. Early detection gives you more options.

The earlier fibroids are discovered, the more treatment options may be available. Depending on their size, location, and your future family plans, your doctor can help determine the best approach before they become more complicated.

3. Fibroids can affect more than your period.

Many women think fibroids only cause heavy bleeding, but they can also contribute to pelvic pressure, back pain, frequent trips to the bathroom, constipation, bloating, and discomfort during intimacy.

If something feels off, don’t ignore it.

4. You deserve peace of mind.

Even if you don’t have fibroids, getting checked can give you reassurance and help you better understand what’s happening with your reproductive health.

Knowledge is power.

5. Your future self will thank you.

So many women spend years dismissing symptoms because they’re busy taking care of everyone else.

Schedule the appointment.

Ask the questions.

Advocate for yourself.

Future you deserves that kind of love.

Let’s Change the Conversation

For far too long, women’s health has been whispered about instead of discussed openly.

Throughout this month, we’ll break down myths about fibroids, talk through symptoms, discuss treatment options, share practical resources, and have honest conversations that every woman deserves to hear because suffering in silence should never be the expectation.

If you’ve been diagnosed with fibroids, are currently navigating treatment, or simply have questions about your body, I hope you’ll follow along this month.

If this post reminds you of your sister, cousin, best friend, coworker, or mama, send it to her.

One conversation could lead to one appointment.

One appointment could change a life.

Here’s to choosing our health, trusting our instincts, and reminding one another that we don’t have to suffer in silence.

Welcome to the series.