If a condition affects up to 8 out of 10 women, surely, we’re all aware of it. We’re talking about it. We’re doing something about it.

Right?

Actually…keep reading.

The impact of fibroids
Fibroids affect up to 80 percent of women by the age of 50.¹ Although some women’s fibroids don’t cause symptoms, other women may experience severe discomfort, and their fibroids negatively impact their daily lives.² Symptoms can include heavy, painful periods; anemia; bloating; frequent urination; pain during sex; and lower back pain.¹

So, if fibroids can affect so many of us in such a negative way, why aren’t more of us talking about them?

The surprising lack of fibroid awareness
The fact is that many women simply don’t know about fibroids. A recent Hologic/Harris Poll survey showed that only 61 percent of US women are familiar with uterine fibroids.³

What does it mean if we’re unfamiliar with fibroids? It could translate to us living with troublesome, inconvenient, painful symptoms and perhaps not even mentioning them to our doctors. It could mean we accept that our heavy periods cause us to miss work and social events, that our back hurts all the time, or that our sex life is on hold because it’s just too painful.

And if many of us aren’t aware that our symptoms are caused by fibroids, then we’re also not aware that fibroid treatment exists—and that there are options. The same poll showed that only about half of US women (52 percent) know that a hysterectomy is not the only way to treat uterine fibroids.³ Therefore, it’s likely that, even among women who are aware of fibroids and are suffering from their symptoms, some of us aren’t talking to our doctors because we believe a hysterectomy is our only option.

What we can do about it
Building greater awareness around fibroid symptoms and the full spectrum of treatment options is the first step. And for that to happen, we need to start talking about what we’re going through. We get it’s not as easy as it sounds. For a lot of us, discussing uterine health isn’t something we’re used to doing, even with our closest friends. But the more we talk about it, and the more we hear other women talk about it, the more comfortable it will become. These are OUR bodies after all—let’s make it normal to ask questions, share experiences, and support one another in being our healthiest selves.

Resources that can help
Just in time for Fibroid Awareness Month, we’ve launched a new web page that shares helpful information on overall gynecological health, uterine growths including fibroids, and minimally invasive fibroid treatment options. So you can take action on your fibroid symptoms.

So why does Fibroid Awareness Month matter? It provides a platform for education, understanding, and discussion, all of which can encourage you to talk to your doctor about your fibroid symptoms and find a treatment that’s right for you.

Experiencing some symptoms but not sure if it could be fibroids? Take the symptom quiz and share the results with your doctor.

References:

1. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Office on Women’s Health. Uterine fibroids. https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/uterine-fibroids. Accessed February 22, 2022.
2. Mayo Clinic. Uterine fibroids. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/uterine-fibroids/symptoms-causes/syc-20354288. Accessed February 22, 2022.
3. This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Hologic between May 10-12, 2022 among 997 female adults ages 18+. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within + 2.8 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Bridget Perry at bridget.perry@hologic.com.