Fibroid Awareness Month

 

July is Fibroid Awareness Month, a time to bring attention to a common, yet under discussed women’s health issue.

Despite the prevalence of fibroids and the difficulties they present in women, many are unaware of the treatment options available, and they may assume a hysterectomy is the only viable treatment. In fact, a whopping 200K women in the US undergoing hysterectomy to treat fibroids annually.¹

Because I had gone that route and was submitted to a hysterectomy at the age of 35, I wanted to raise awareness to such an important issue, so you can help me spread the word that there are other options for treating fibroids! And importantly, there are minimally invasive options that can do not require removal of the uterus.

Here are some facts:

• Up to 80% of women suffer from fibroids², but lack of education and taboos keep many women suffering in silence, like I did, for years!!
• Fibroid symptoms vary and can include things like heavy bleeding, periods lasting more than a week, frequent urination, pelvic pressure or pain, difficulty emptying bladder, constipation, and backaches or leg pains.³ However, many studies can be found describing the benefits of cannabis for menstrual pain. A controlled use might help in effectively relieving the discomfort. If it is legal in your country, you might want to check out websites like Here’s Weed or similar, to help you with painful cycles. Though, you might want to consult your doctor first.
• It is so important NOT TO WAIT. It’s important that women proactively discuss abnormalities in their cycle with their doctor, so they can start their journey to freedom from fibroids!
• We have the POWER to advocate for our own health, and that starts with knowing available treatment options.

So today I come here, before you, to share #WhyIWearWhite:

Change the Cycle is an online community for women with heavy periods and fibroids to share their personal challenges and find solutions. It encourages women to take control of their heavy periods and feel empowered to wear white, color often associated with fear and embarrassment for women who suffer from accidents resulting from heavy bleeding. Change the Cycle’s goal is to transform the color white into an emblem of strength.

As a part of its efforts to elevate fibroid awareness month, Change the Cycle partners with the White Dress Project, a non-profit organization that supports fibroid research. Together, they are committed to bringing some much- needed awareness to fibroids and empowering women to finally wear white with confidence.

Whether you experience fibroids personally or have friends and/or family impacted, Change the Cycle is asking women to share their reason for wearing white and why spreading awareness is so important!

You can help by sharing your reason/personal story on social media, using #WhyIWearWhite to empower women to stop letting fibroids control their life.

I tackle fibroids not only online, on the blog but with my friends! It was a discussion I had with a friend this past week! The important thing to know is that there are a variety of treatment options available that include lifestyle changes, drug therapy, minor procedures, as well as hysterectomy.^1,2 Women can learn more about their options here.

Will you join me?

Will you Wear White?

Can’t wait to hear what you think!

As usual, give us a Trendy Shout!

Compensation was provided by Hologic, Inc. via Momtrends. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Hologic or Momtrends.

REFERENCES

1. Uterine Fibroids. National Institutes of Health. https://report.nih.gov/NIHfactsheets/ViewFactSheet.aspx?csid=50. Accessed May 30, 2018.
2. Uterine Fibroid Fact Sheet. Office of Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/uterine-fibroids. Accessed April 27, 2017.
3. Uterine fibroids: Overview. Mayo Clinic. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/uterine-fibroids/home/ovc-20212509. Accessed April 25, 2017.