Fibroids Are Not Just A ‘Black Woman’s Disease’: Advocates Push Congress To Finally Take Benign Tumors Seriously
Fibroids are noncancerous growths in or around the uterus that are common, but for Black women, they can cause many problems. The post Fibroids Are Not Just A ‘Black Woman’s Disease’: Advocates Push Congress To Finally Take Benign Tumors Seriously appeared first on MadameNoire.
Black News 
For months, Catherine McNeil bled without a clear answer.
The 46-year-old mother of three had not experienced heavy bleeding like that since using birth control. By late 2024, her menstrual periods had become longer and heavier. At first, she believed the problem might be connected to her intrauterine device, or IUD, stress, or changes connected to age. But as the bleeding continued, McNeil knew something was wrong.
“Your IUD may be faulty. You have about three years left on it. Maybe that’s the issue. We’ll swap it out,” McNeil said her provider told her, without first conducting a scan or ultrasound.
Eventually, after receiving a CT scan and an ultrasound, McNeil learned that she had a uterine fibroid.
Fibroids, also known as uterine leiomyomas, are noncancerous growths in or around the uterus. They are common, but for many women, especially Black women, they can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pressure, pain, anemia, fertility issues, pregnancy complications, and, in some cases, major surgery.
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The post Fibroids Are Not Just A ‘Black Woman’s Disease’: Advocates Push Congress To Finally Take Benign Tumors Seriously appeared first on MadameNoire.
