Recently, tennis superstar Venus Williams opened up about how she suffered for years without a solution because doctors ignored her complaints about symptoms associated with uterine fibroids. Each month during her period, she explained, she experienced severe cramps and nausea; she also developed chronic anemia due to heavy bleeding. Yet, Venus revealed to NBC news, “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. In fact, it took years before she found proper care, eventually undergoing a myomectomy to remove individual tumors. Now, she’s speaking out, revealing the impact on her career linked to delays in diagnosing fibroids. And she’s hoping to help other women avoid similar situations.

Feeling Ignored

Though Williams had suffered with severe menstrual cramps and heavy bleeding since the age of 16, she told Self magazine that her doctors did not end up diagnosing fibroids until 2016. And even after that diagnosis, she was told her only treatment option was a hysterectomy, something she desperately wanted to avoid.

And so she spent years suffering with embarrassing leaks and unbearable pain, impacting her social life and her career. Eventually, she found doctors who listened to her and explained that she had both fibroids and adenomyosis, a condition where part of your uterine lining grows into the organ’s muscular wall. Finally, in 2024, she underwent uterine-sparing surgery to remove tumors. Today, she is feeling much better and is advocating for other women, saying: “No one should have to go through this. I want people to know: You don’t have to live this way.”

Help with Diagnosing Fibroids

While not cancerous, uterine fibroids are tumors that can cause disruptive symptoms that negatively impact your quality of life. Unfortunately, according to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIGO], delays in diagnosing fibroids are not uncommon, due to the fact that “Many health professionals may lack access to the theoretical and practical resources needed to diagnose and manage fibroids effectively.” So, to help women like Venus get earlier diagnoses—and life-altering treatment—they have released best practice guidelines for diagnosing and treating these uterine tumors, important resources that we hope will transform care in this sector of women’s health.

You see, we believe that whether you’re an athletic superstar or just a woman who wants to feel better, you deserve to be listened to when fibroid symptoms are disrupting your daily activities.

Not feeling heard, or being told your only option for fibroid relief is to undergo a hysterectomy? We’re here to help. The interventional radiologists at Georgia Fibroids provide minimally-invasive treatment for fibroids and adenomyosis; we can relieve your symptoms while sparing your uterus. And you can learn more about your treatment options by reaching out to our team to Schedule an Appointment request a consultation [/ga-appt-link.]