This July is Fibroid Awareness Month. To mark the occasion, Hayley, a guest on the recently launched third season of our podcast, Embracing the Mind, has recounted her experience with fibroids in this special column. You can hear more from Hayley in the podcast here.
Most women will develop uterine fibroids during their lives. But many of us, especially in our early reproductive years, have no idea what they are.
I was one of them.
In 2024, when I was 32, an abdominal ultrasound found four large fibroids, including one about the size of a mango growing against my spine.
This diagnosis came after more than a decade of repeat visits to GPs, specialists, and pelvic floor physios for persistent pain and a range of other symptoms. Some are commonly linked to women’s health—like heavy and painful periods—but others, such as urinary frequency and digestive issues, are less obviously connected.
Because I didn’t always experience my symptoms as related—and often sought help for just one or two at a time—it made getting a diagnosis harder.
Doctors and allied health professionals suggested a range of possible culprits. These included the reproductive health issues we increasingly hear about, such as endometriosis and PCOS, along with things like irritable bowel syndrome and anxiety.
All too often, doctors didn’t follow up properly, leaving me feeling dismissed and disempowered. When I was 26, one doctor said it was probably endometriosis, but that I’d need surgery to confirm it. Then she asked if I really wanted to go through that. I didn’t. But who would?
Over time, the lack of answers started to wear me down. Loved ones suggested I might just be sensitive or worrying too much about my health. I started to think they were right. I just needed to get on with things.
I was never referred for a scan of my uterus. It wasn’t until I was 32—when I began experiencing severe and persistent back pain, but only at night—that a doctor took my symptoms seriously. Persistent nighttime back pain can be a red flag for cancer.
That red flag led to imaging.
And when the ultrasound revealed four fibroids, I felt relieved. I finally had an explanation. A diagnosis meant the pain I’d been feeling for years was real. I hadn’t imagined it or exaggerated it. And now, I had a way to move forward.
But the way forward wasn’t easy. Since the tumours were so large by the time they were found, I needed open surgery to remove them. One of the risks of this surgery was a life-saving hysterectomy. I was 32 and hadn’t had children. I was terrified. I was told that if I didn’t have the surgery and did become pregnant, the location of the fibroids could even make it difficult to eat. Depending on where your fibroids are located, you might not be able to fall pregnant or keep a pregnancy at all.
I don’t think it should take more than ten years, chronic pain, no sleep, and a cancer scare for someone to be heard. If sharing my story helps even one young woman recognise the signs earlier, ask the right questions, and avoid the intervention I needed, it’s worth it.
A Call to Action
We need better education and awareness about women’s health so more of us can spot the signs and get the help we need early. But it’s not just about knowledge. Healthcare providers also need to listen closely and take a comprehensive approach that considers the whole picture -not just isolated complaints - and provide proper follow through.
We need more research into the causes of fibroids, and better treatment and management options to support women living with them. Last week, I had my six-month post-op scan. This was meant to check how well my uterus was healing. Instead, I found out that several new tumours had already formed and were growing quickly. Most women develop fibroids, but only some experience large, symptomatic tumours like mine. I hope that by raising awareness and improving care options, fewer women will have to face this struggle.