Uterine fibroids are one of the most common reproductive health conditions—yet they remain shrouded in silence, stigma, and misinformation. Even though up to 80 percent of women will develop fibroids at some point in their lives, the condition is still widely misunderstood and often goes undiagnosed until symptoms become severe.
So, why does a condition this common remain hidden in plain sight? BlackDoctor spoke with Eve LePage, Reproductive Health Specialist at Clue, to discuss what we can do to change the conversation.
Why Fibroids Remain a “Silent” Condition
Fibroids often don’t cause symptoms, which means many people never know they have them unless discovered during imaging for another reason. If they aren’t causing issues, they usually don’t require treatment—adding to the sense of fibroids being “silent.”
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Another factor is the gender health gap.
“For decades, medical research mostly excluded women, which delayed our understanding of conditions like fibroids,” LePage tells BlackDoctor.
To make things more confusing, many people panic when they hear the word “fibroid” and immediately think of cancer, even though the vast majority of fibroids are benign (non-cancerous).
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“When you add in the broader taboo around menstruation and reproductive health, it’s easy to see why fibroids often go undiscussed. Many people are reluctant to seek help or share their experiences, which reinforces the silence and stigma,” LePage adds.
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Why Some Fibroids Cause Symptoms—and Others Don’t
Fibroid symptoms vary depending on size and location.
- Even small fibroids can cause heavy or irregular bleeding if they grow inside the uterine lining.
- Larger fibroids can press against nearby organs, causing pain, bloating, or urinary and digestive problems.
- Some fibroids can affect fertility or cause pregnancy complications.
Others remain small and grow slowly. “They may grow slowly, remain small, or sit in areas of the uterus that don’t interfere with bleeding, pain, or organ function. In these cases, people can live their whole lives without knowing they have fibroids, and they’re often only discovered by chance during a routine exam, pregnancy scan, or imaging for something unrelated,” LePage explains.
Warning Signs to Watch For
If you notice any of these common symptoms and they are affecting your quality of life, it’s important to check in with your healthcare provider.
- Heavy or prolonged periods (sometimes leading to anemia)
- Pelvic pain or pressure (a dull ache or fullness)
- Frequent urination or constipation (due to organ pressure)
- Difficulty conceiving or pregnancy complications
- “Fibroid belly”—a visibly enlarged abdomen
It’s also important to trust your instincts.
“If you feel your concerns are being minimized, seek a second, or even third, opinion. Keep a detailed record of your symptoms (tracking with Clue can help here!) and bring it with you to appointments. Don’t be afraid to ask direct questions about diagnosis and treatment options,” LePage advises.
RELATED: Fibroids and Black Women: Is Your Doctor Missing the Signs?
Why Fibroids Go Undiagnosed
Too often, fibroid symptoms are brushed off as “normal period problems.” This cultural minimization delays care until symptoms become severe.
“…Many of these symptoms touch on areas people often feel uncomfortable talking about, like periods, fertility, or body changes. That silence can add to the stigma and leave people living with pain, heavy bleeding, or visible changes in their bodies without seeking help,” LePage notes.
Systemic disparities also play a role: Black and Latina women are more likely to have fibroids but less likely to receive timely diagnosis or treatment due to healthcare bias and unequal access.
“When diagnosis is delayed, fibroids can grow larger, limiting treatment options…Many people may face more severe complications like anemia from heavy bleeding or ongoing pain that disrupts daily life,” LePage says.
The good news? Awareness and self-tracking can make a difference. “Paying attention to your cycle, especially changes in flow, pain, or duration, can help you notice early signs of fibroids,” she adds.
RELATED: What MOST Women Don’t Know About Fibroids
Busting Common Fibroid Myths
Misinformation can have a real impact on reproductive health, leading people to delay care or accept misdiagnosis. LePage highlights the myths you should ignore:
Myth: All fibroids require treatment.
- Truth: Many can be left alone if they’re not causing symptoms.
Myth: Hysterectomy is the only solution.
- Truth: Minimally invasive options like myomectomy, uterine artery embolization, and radiofrequency ablation exist.
Myth: Fibroid treatment always causes infertility.
- Truth: Most treatments preserve fertility, and in some cases, removing fibroids can even improve it.
Treatment Options Beyond Hysterectomy
Fibroid treatment is highly personalized, and most options do not involve removing the uterus or causing infertility. Options include:
- Medication: Birth control, anti-inflammatories, or hormone-blocking drugs to manage bleeding or pain.
- Minimally invasive procedures: Uterine artery embolization, radiofrequency ablation, or hysteroscopic myomectomy.
- Surgery: Myomectomy (removing fibroids while keeping the uterus) or hysterectomy (removing the uterus, usually a last resort).
RELATED: Fibroids and Fertility: What Every Black Woman Needs to Know
Why Black Women Are Disproportionately Affected
Black women are about three times more likely to develop fibroids than white women, and they often experience them earlier and more severely. Genetics, vitamin D deficiency, environmental stressors, and systemic healthcare inequities all play a role.
Unfortunately, the disparities don’t stop there. “When Black women do seek treatment for fibroids, they face higher rates of complications from standard treatment options,” LePage notes. They are disproportionately steered toward hysterectomy, which carries higher risks.
Public figures like Venus Williams and Lupita Nyong’o sharing their experiences help break stigma and validate others navigating this condition. Representation matters because it drives broader awareness of a condition that disproportionately affects Black women.
The Power of Cycle Tracking
Cycle tracking apps like Clue can help spot early signs of fibroids. Logging changes in flow, pain, or cycle length creates a record that empowers patients in medical settings.
“Tracking can also help reduce stigma around reproductive health by turning personal experiences into concrete data, making conversations about periods, pain, and symptoms less about embarrassment and more about health,” LePage explains.
What Gives Hope for the Future
The landscape of fibroid care is changing, LePage concludes.
“For decades, conditions like fibroids were sidelined because of the gender health gap…What gives me hope is that this is finally starting to change. We’re seeing more funding and more attention directed toward women’s health research, and with that comes earlier detection, better treatment options, and more tailored care.”
On the clinical side, the rise of minimally invasive procedures means that patients have safer options with quicker recoveries, instead of facing hysterectomy as the default solution.
