A serious health issue with tennis superstar Venus Williams. Venus recently revealed that doctors ignored her uterine fibroids for years. In an interview with NBC she said that symptoms like heavy periods, abdominal pain and fatigue were not taken seriously by doctors. When the correct diagnosis was finally made she was relieved but by then her life and tennis career had been greatly affected.
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous lumps in the uterus that bother many women. The American Medical Association says 20 to 50 percent of women can have it and it’s more common in black women. Her symptoms were initially thought to be normal or related to other illnesses, Venus said. Many times doctors say it’s just because of periods. Many women like Venus face such neglect.
Venus struggled with heavy periods, pain and fatigue for 7 years. At first doctors thought it was exercise induced asthma. In 2011 she was diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome. But the fibroid diagnosis came later. A New York Times article says black women’s symptoms are often perceived as less severe leading to a delay in diagnosis. Venus’s story is the same.
Fibroids can cause heavy and painful periods, abdominal pressure and sometimes infertility. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine fibroids in black women appear at a younger age and in a more severe form. Venus said these symptoms also affected her tennis. She couldn’t exercise because of exhaustion. But she didn’t stop and continued to look for the right treatment.
Read Also: Trump’s ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ stuck in House: Rebellion in the GOP, what will pass?
Venus treated her problem with myomectomy which removes fibroids but saves the uterus. Dr. Taraneh Shirazian of NYU Langone says timely treatment of fibroids is important otherwise they can make life difficult. Venus also changed her diet, started eating plant based and sugar free. This relieved her pain and discomfort. Her sister Serena also told her to go on a wellness retreat.
This experience gave Venus more strength. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar she said fibroids and Sjögren’s syndrome taught her to put her health first. She’s now sharing her health journey in her book Strive. Venus says she plays tennis despite the illness because it’s not in her nature to give up. Her story is an inspiration to women who are fighting for their health.
Black women in healthcare face discrimination. Serena told The New York Times her pregnancy issues were ignored. Venus faced the same. Now both sisters are empowering women to speak up for their health. Venus says “Listen to your body and ask the doctor whatever.”
Source: Today / NBC
Mark Phury is a dynamic sports enthusiast with a knack for capturing the thrill of the game. With 3 years at Hindustan Times, he delivers sharp, engaging stories that resonate with fans. Reach him at markphury@gmail.com for insights that score every time.