As Black women, it’s often easy to sidestep taking care of ourselves when we have so many people who need our support. If there’s a bandage available, we’ll apply it and keep it moving, even if our wounds need more attention. And that, combined with proven gaps in health care for Black women, is a prescription for a lifetime of suffering in silence.
That’s why Hologic, Inc. launched Project Health Equality. PHE is a multifaceted, multiyear initiative that combines research, education and access to address the structural and cultural barriers that prevent Black and Hispanic women from receiving the same quality of healthcare as white women.
One area of opportunity that project organizers want to address is the disparities in diagnosing and treating uterine fibroids (UF) in Black women. The Society for Women’s Health Research published the 2021 study “Examining Research Gaps and Barriers to Care for Fibroids,” which revealed that it takes four years longer for Black women to get a fibroid diagnosis in comparison to white women. And even though millions of women experience fibroids, “nearly 80 percent of Black women will develop fibroids by 50, three times more frequently than other racial groups,” according to “The health disparities of uterine fibroid tumors for African American women: a public health issue,” a 2014 study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
What We Can Do About It
To help address barriers that impact the quality of life for Black women diagnosed with fibroids, Hologic hosted a roundtable discussion, “Unmuting Fibroids: Getting Loud for Equal Care,” in partnership with the Black Women’s Health Imperative. The conversation featured moderator Tiffany Cross, host of MSNBC’s “The Cross Connection,” who discussed fibroid care and management with health care providers and policy makers. Celebrities like Tamar Braxton and Yvonne Orji also discussed their own experiences with fibroids.
Here are a few key takeaways from the discussion.
Pay attention to your body.
You hear that phrase all the time, but are you doing it? Your period is a vital indicator of your health, so don’t ignore discomfort. Despite what your family or friends may tell you, an extremely heavy or painful period is not normal. Symptoms such as hair loss, heart disease, fatigue, low sex drive or fertility issues are also warning signs that something is off. Don’t let any of that stuff go. Schedule an appointment with your health care provider ASAP.
Prioritize the conversation with your health care providers.
Take an active approach leading up to and during your appointments. Document the symptoms that concern you and be ready to talk about them in detail. If your medical care providers set a tone that isn’t caring, reset it. Say what you need to say, and ask your questions. If you still aren’t being taken seriously, seek out a second opinion. You deserve to be heard and treated for your pain.
Talk about it with family and friends.
If you’ve received a UF diagnosis, don’t suffer in silence or downplay its significance. The roundtable report revealed that “'I had a procedure' is a common way Black women may discuss their UF with family and friends. Many Black women with uterine fibroids experience fear, pain and feelings of being alone as if no one understands what they’re going through.” Bringing up the topic and openly discussing your fibroid treatment with trusted family and friends helps de-stigmatize the larger conversation. Your courage could benefit the young women in your life who may eventually experience fibroids.
Visit unmutingfibroids.com to watch the roundtable discussion and learn about efforts to care for Black women living with uterine fibroids.
– By Brandi Hunter