Having a convo with friends about fibroids and I wanted to share something that wasn't said in the last couple of online convos I heard/was in about them, and that I've forgotten to say myself: you do NOT automatically have to remove fibroids.

Drs have no idea how many women actually have fibroids because many never know, bc the fibroids are never disruptive. Black women's tend to be *worse* and require intervention more, but I know WW who learned they had one or two in the cut chillin' when they got pregnant

Although fibroids *are* tumors, because they are benign most drs prefer not take you through an invasive procedure unless they are a problem: unmanageable periods, anemia, digestive issues, crowding the uterus for pregnancy, etc. so they say "let's monitor them."

So simply having fibroids is also not something to freak out about, even if you DO have to have surgery. It is SOOOOOO common. Way too common for us not to talk about it even more than we do. But every single person's experience is different.

And there are so many various courses of response. It IS something I highly suggest you consult with a specialist an addition to your normal gyno about. I didn't like the direction my gynecologist wanted to take for mine and found someone who was like the fibroid whisperer

But just having them in itself is not always cause for alarm.
That said, if you are over 30 and see changes in your period and pain, ask your dr for a transvaginal ultrasound to check. All gyns don't think to check for fibroids automatically (which is it's own issue)

My fibroids came back and my dr and I have been watching them for about 3 years now. Last time, a normal routine was literally unmanageable for me for 2 days a month. Now, they're basically just there. So I haven't decided yet what I'm going to do.

That was my issue; my dr said "Hopefully it won't have to be a hysterectomy" one too many times for me (I was 33). And he wanted to give me lupon (I think that's the name) which forces you through temp menopause to shrink them and I'd read terrible things about it https://twitter.com/faylavie/status/1349100099599679488

It took me time (and soooooo many tests. Jesus. Get ready for ALL the poking and prodding and people literally all in your shit) to get to surgery. It's worth it though

This isn't proven. My mom, my grandma and my step mom and I didn't have relaxers. I had completely Virgin hair never been touched by lye until 2 years ago when the domican salon snuck some in my conditioner https://twitter.com/thefinefeminine/status/1349101879343591433

Drs do. not. actually. know. what. causes. fibroids. or. why. they're. worse. in. some. people.

It's why I strongly suggest taking time to research. Diet changes don't work for everyone like they do with PCOS. Going off birth control made mine worse, it helps others.

They are not the same as cancer or endometriosis or PCOS and while some of the same things may help abate symptoms and impact, there is no universal one-size-fits-all course of response. I cannot overstate that.

But that does leave room for ALOT of speculation and supposition. Just be careful and be clear on what YOUR body says.
My biggest issue was anemia. Someone else's may be pain. Someone else may have them crowding organs. Some are in the uterus, some are in the uterine wall...

... some are outside the uterus.
Some ppl can have laparoscopic, outpatient surgery. I had an abdominal myomectomy and was in the hospital two nights. It VARIES. Talk to women, though, so you can see just HOW much it varies. It's all helpful to know

Let me add one last thing: this is an area where disparity in health care shows up in a major way. Your options for care will vary by coverage & ability to take time off from work, and course of treatment offered may be impacted by whether this is a dr who knows you/your history

And I think that's a big factor in why so many Black women, especially, have scary stories about their fibroid journey. I've never had to advocate for myself the way I have with my fibroids. Fortunately, I had EXCELLENT insurance and could get all the tests and see a specialist

It's also something that requires long term follow up and monitoring.