African American women are more likely to develop uterine fibroids than women of other races. And celebrities of color are not immune to that statistic, struggling with symptoms just like other women do. Recently, stars like Tamar Braxton and Cynthia Bailey have opened up about what it’s like living with fibroids. In this post, we share parts of their stories. Hopefully, it will help other women recognize fibroid symptoms, so they can seek earlier diagnosis and enjoy a wider range of treatment options.

Tamar Braxton on Living with Fibroids

In a recent interview with Essence Magazine, Braxton explained that for her, a so-called normal period was, “heavy, ridiculous.” She also experienced “insane cramps” and nausea, eventually learning that these were not normal symptoms of menstruation; rather, they were her fibroid symptoms.

Embarrassed, she explained, “I didn’t know that it was fibroids, I thought that it was a normal period…where you miss school, you have insane cramps. It would be to the point where I would feel nauseous. Couldn’t get out of bed and I would be exhausted and the exhaustion came from having extreme anemia.”

Hearing Braxton’s journey, Bailey spoke up about another element of living with fibroids: dealing with severe bloating. In fact, she said, her bloating was so severe that she, “Stayed on the celebrity baby bump alert. Like I was always giving '(I'm) pregnant with imaginary children' because of my fibroids. And I was shutting down on rumors, I was like, 'I'm not pregnant, I have fibroids.'"

Whether you’re a celebrity or not, symptoms of fibroids can make it difficult to get through your day. Luckily, you can find fibroid relief without surgery. From lifestyle measures and medications to minimally-invasive medical procedures, options are available—and its important to explore yours before making any treatment decisions.

Minimally Invasive Fibroid Treatment

When interviewing Braxton and Bailey for Essence, ABC News Anchor Linsey Davis—herself a fibroid sufferer—revealed that her form of treatment was a hysterectomy (the surgical removal of her uterus.) In explaining her choice of this drastic treatment choice, Davis said, “I guess I just want to be final. You just want to be finished. [Living with fibroids] causes me enough angst and grief, and planning my day differently, accordingly, that I really feel like I’m ready to be finished with this journey.”

Now, while Davis chose ended her journey with surgery, you can get rid of fibroids another way—by exploring UFE, a minimally-invasive procedure that shrinks tumors by blocking the blood supply that feeds them. While tumors may return following treatment, it’s an option that allows you to preserve fertility and avoid surgery, general anesthesia and overnight hospital stays. To learn more and explore your treatment options, we encourage you to reach out to our team and request a consultation at one of our three Georgia Endovascular locations.