Tiffany's Story: Overcoming Denial and Finding Hope
A 2017 study published in Medical Hypotheses indicated that some women are particularly sensitive to hormonal changes and more susceptible to abrupt hormonal fluctuations occurring across their reproductive lifespan. For many women that have experienced this unpredictability over an extended period of time, it can be difficult to know which changes are worth investigating further with the guidance of a physician.
That was the case for Tiffany. Her journey began during the summer of 2021, when she noticed a significant shift in her menstrual cycle. Her periods had become dramatically heavier, demanding an increased use of tampons and pads. Chalking it up to hormonal changes, Tiffany did not immediately seek medical attention.
By 2022, Tiffany’s friends suggested that her symptoms may be caused by fibroids. "I was in denial," she admits. It wasn’t until 2023, during a routine annual visit, that her doctor discovered a dense lower abdomen and recommended an ultrasound. The results confirmed what her friends had suspected—fibroids. “In retrospect, it is shocking that it took me so long to investigate the changes my body was experiencing,” she reflects. “I honestly had no idea. And when I started to get an idea, denial kept me from investigating sooner.”
Tiffany’s new reality, grounded in a formal medical diagnosis, continued with an MRI and more informed conversations with her gynecologist about potential next steps. While surgery wasn’t deemed necessary, Tiffany and her doctor worked on mitigating her primary symptom, heavy bleeding.
Comorbidity is defined as the simultaneous presence of two or more diseases or medical conditions in a patient. For Tiffany, heavy bleeding resulted in anemia, incurring low iron levels and often leaving her feeling depleted for a couple days at a timeExperiencing anemia as a result of uterine health conditions is not uncommon for women, and it is important to note that the complications of chronic anemia left untreated are not minor. According to a 2022 study published in Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, chronic anemia can adversely affect cardiovascular function, which plays an important role in helping the body meet the demands of activity, exercise, and stress. It can also worsen chronic conditions and ultimately lead to the development of multiple organ failure and even mortality.
The weight of Tiffany’s fibroid diagnosis has impacted her in unexpected ways. "I think it intensifies my pre-menstrual syndrome sometimes, so I feel things more deeply than I would on a regular day," she shares. It is no secret that the toll of uterine health conditions and hormone imbalance is navigating a rollercoaster of emotions. Emotional support from our communities and people that can hold space for us are so very necessary for women navigating these complex health issues. On the whole, Tiffany’s support system of friends and family has been strong, for which she expresses gratitude, “I feel very seen and encouraged because of them.”
As she continues to navigate her diagnosis, Tiffany points to prayer as a key component of her journey. She supplements her diet with iron and has found solace in doing the things she loves. "I don’t feel bogged down by the presence of fibroids. I just would really rather not have them," she admits.
Tiffany’s advice for those newly diagnosed with fibroids or grappling with similar conditions is powerful. "Ask a lot of questions and listen to your gut,” she advises. “You don’t have to see any healthcare provider who doesn’t sit well with you.” She also encourages women to take care of themselves by resting, getting educated, and taking the time to figure out which steps are truly best for them.
Looking ahead, Tiffany’s primary goal is to mitigate the heavy bleeding that leaves her with ultra-low energy each month. In terms of the broader medical community, she hopes to see improved treatment options for women with womb-related conditions. "I would like to see more aggressive research and subsequently more foolproof plans to treat women who have these conditions, while keeping the uterus intact," she says. The need for more personalized plans is a sentiment that echoes throughout the stories of many women facing uterine health conditions.
As she continues her new path of discovery, Tiffany wants others to hold onto hope. "It can be a very emotional, discouraging journey, but I encourage the people experiencing it to keep finding hope. Your body is listening," she shares. Tiffany’s story is one of acceptance and faith, two things we can all lean into in the face life’s challenges.
See Blood. Say Blood. is an official campaign of Uterine Care Collaborative helping Black women understand and recognize abnormal bleeding as a potential sign of a serious uterine health condition. Our information and visuals guide Black women to identify normal and abnormal bleeding patterns and learn self-advocacy strategies for endometriosis, fibroids, PCOS, and uterine cancer.
