What is Fibroid Awareness Month?
July is Fibroid Awareness Month and July 1st is National Wear White day, in which we wear white in order to show support for women who suffer from fibroids.
Uterine fibroids are benign muscular growths on the wall of the uterus. In many instances the fibroids are large enough to cause symptoms that interfere with daily life.
Fibroids are very common among women of childbearing age, and yet awareness of this condition is limited. So July was designated as a time of the year for us to make more people aware of this condition and the women who experience it.
Below are some facts about Fibroid Awareness Month and Wear White Day.
What are Uterine Fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that can cause no symptoms at all, or can cause pain and/or enlargement in the abdomen, heavy bleeding, complications during pregnancy, reproductive issues, and more. These symptoms often interfere with everyday life and prevent women from enjoying social engagements, or participating in recreational activities. In some cases symptoms may interfere with work. Some women who desire to maintain their ability to bear children, or who wish to become pregnant, find that their fibroids are interfering with their reproductive system.
What are some treatments for Fibroids?
Fibroids often resolve after menopause, but remain one of the top reasons for hysterectomy or myomectomy. Both the myomectomy and hysterectomy involve removing part of all of the uterus). An alternative to a hysterectomy is the Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE), A UFE is a minimally invasive, non-surgical treatment that is an alternative to a myomectomy or hysterectomy. We are proud to offer the UFE here at Preferred Fibroid in Atlanta.
What is Wear White Day?
Wear White Day exists to support the many women who experience the symptoms of fibroids. Wearing white represents freedom from fibroids to so many women, and so those who support them chose to wear white on July 1 to show that they are not alone.
How do Fibroids affect women?
As part of Fibroid Awareness Month, staff at the FDA shared their stories of dealing with Fibroids, and Rashetta was one of the women who was willing to share her story.
Rashetta shared that her fibroids brought “extended menstrual cycles accompanied by heavy bleeding and consistent, reoccurring pain.” She waited many years to address the fibroids, and eventually underwent a myomectomy to remove 13 fibroids.
She says “I wish I knew to ask about the size and location of my fibroids early on in my diagnosis. This would have prompted me to think about my reproductive future sooner and seek out additional treatment options given I was certain I wanted to have children one day. Who knows, it could have resulted in me not needing to have 13 fibroids removed via a myomectomy.”
The lesson she learned is “No matter where you are in your fibroid journey, I encourage you to be your own best health advocate. You know your body well and you should immediately seek help or a second opinion when something doesn’t feel or sound right.”
How can we show our support for women with fibroids?
- Learn. See the education section of our website for more information.
- Share. Follow us and share our social media content this month on Facebook and Instagram.
- Support. Fibroids affect women in very individual ways. Each situation is different.
- Wear White! Break out the white on July 1!
What do I do if I might have fibroids?
Reach out to us today for a consultation. We are ready to help you start living again!