- Venus Williams recently shared her journey with uterine fibroids, a condition that impacted her health and quality of life throughout her tennis career.
- Despite her severe symptoms, the Grand Slam champion’s concerns were dismissed by doctors for years.
- Fibroids are noncancerous uterine tumors that often cause heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, and fertility issues.
- Experts emphasize self-advocacy and seeking second opinions if your symptoms are dismissed.
Venus Williams, one of the most decorated tennis stars in history, recently opened up about her battle with uterine fibroids.
Williams, 45, said the condition took a toll on her health, tennis career, and quality of life for nearly 30 years.
In an interview with NBC News Now, the seven-time Grand Slam champion described how her fibroid symptoms, ranging from intense cramps to heavy bleeding, nausea, and persistent anemia, became a monthly battle.
“I was hugging the toilet, waiting for it to pass,” she shared.
Williams said that although she knew she had fibroids, she didn’t realize how large or severe they were, and her concerns were repeatedly dismissed by doctors.
“As bad as things were for me, crazy amounts of bleeding like you couldn’t imagine … my doctors told me it was normal,” she said.
During the 2016 Wimbledon tournament, the pain became so intense that Williams collapsed in the locker room. Her sister Serena Williams had to call for medical aid. “I was lying on the locker room floor, unable to move,” she recalled.
Williams said it wasn’t until she found NYU Langone’s Center for Fibroid Care that she finally received effective treatment for her fibroids.
“No one should have to go through this,” she said. “You don’t have to live this way.”
Here’s what to know about fibroids and their symptoms, and why clinicians may dismiss the condition.
While the exact causes of fibroids are not known, hormones and genetic factors may play a role in their development.
“Fibroids are noncancerous tumors of the uterus made of muscle and fibrous tissue,” explained Esohe Faith Ohuoba, MD, MPH, a board certified OB-GYN at Memorial Hermann Medical Group Kingwood and Memorial Hermann Convenient Care Center in Summer Creek, in Humble, TX.
“They can range in size from a seed to a melon,” she told Healthline.
Ohuoba said that around 70% of women will develop fibroids by the age of 50, and that percentage increases for many women of color, specifically Black women, where the number rises to 80%.
“Black women are three times more likely to develop fibroids than white women. They also tend to be diagnosed younger, often in their 20s and 30s,” Obuoba said.
Fibroids are often asymptomatic, which means you might not experience any symptoms at all.
“In some cases, fibroids can impact fertility or pregnancy, and the chronic nature of these symptoms can interfere with work, relationships, emotional well-being, and overall quality of life,” said Arielle Bayer, MD, reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist at CCRM Fertility in New York City.
Fibroids have been somewhat elusive in clinical settings until recently. They’re notoriously difficult to diagnose and often missed by doctors who might mistake their symptoms for another condition affecting reproductive health.
Fibroid symptoms can be debilitating, however. As with Venus Williams, some women may find their pain is not taken seriously or is even dismissed in clinic settings. This may be particularly true for women of color.
Ohuoba said a lack of awareness of the condition is a huge part of this issue.
“Unfortunately, patients do not realize their symptoms are a problem that needs attention because having difficulty or pain with menstruation is normalized,” she explained.
She emphasized the importance of patient and clinician awareness and education. “Even Venus mentioned seeing a social post that caught her attention and prompted her to learn more,” she pointed out.
“In clinical settings, lack of empathy and unconscious bias are reasons why women of color can be dismissed and minimized,” she continued.
“Furthermore, with fibroids specifically, there is a huge comfort with offering hysterectomy for fibroids first or in totality, which is another reason why symptom dismissal can occur.”
If you’re experiencing symptoms that may be fibroids or another reproductive health issue, it’s important to advocate for yourself to get the care you need.
“This is especially important because women of color often receive a delay in diagnosis, which can often lead to larger fibroids and more severe symptoms,” Ohuoba said.
Bayer recommended trusting your instincts. “If you feel your concerns are being minimized, it’s OK to seek a second, or even third, opinion,” she told Healthline.
“Keep a detailed symptom journal and bring it with you to appointments. Don’t be afraid to ask direct questions about imaging, diagnosis, and treatment options,” she added.
Ohuoba said choosing your healthcare provider carefully is also key.
“Seeking out providers experienced in treating fibroids and understanding your health goals will help you feel empowered about your ability to navigate your diagnosis,” she said.
One approach is watchful waiting. “This is where your healthcare provider will monitor you for changes,” Ohuoba explained.
Treatment may depend on whether preserving fertility is a priority. “Uterine artery embolization (UAE) and ultrasound-based fibroid treatments are generally considered options when fertility preservation is not a priority,” explained Bayer.
“These approaches may be appropriate in select cases but are typically reserved as alternatives when childbearing is not a concern.”
A hysterectomy is another option, which involves the complete removal of the uterus.
For those who wish to maintain fertility, minimally invasive procedures like hysteroscopic or laparoscopic myomectomy are preferred.
Alternatively, a newer treatment option known as radiofrequency ablation (Acessa procedure) uses heat to destroy fibroid tissue.
“This procedure is minimally invasive and uses small incisions in the abdomen that allow access to the uterus to target the fibroids,” Ohuoba explained.
Getting a diagnosis for fibroids can be a challenge, especially for women of color. This underpins the importance of self-advocacy and finding the right healthcare professional.
“This area has evolved into a specialized field of its own, offering patients safer, more effective options with faster recovery times,” Bayer said.
