Fibroid Education Matters 5 Facts Everyone Should Know
July Is Fibroid Awareness Month (And I Didn’t Know Either)
July is best known for fireworks, Independence Day, and the blazing summer heat. But there’s a quieter truth many people don’t know: July is Fibroid Awareness Month. Recently, as the sky lit up with fireworks of all sizes and shapes, I couldn’t help but think of fibroids. They also come in many different sizes and shapes, and each woman’s experience is unique. From Red, White, and Blue… to Teal
In July, we’re used to seeing a sea of red, white, and blue to honor the flag and this country’s independence. But there’s another color we should be talking about this month: teal.
Teal is the color that symbolizes Fibroid Awareness Month. The teal ribbon also represents other gynecologic conditions, including ovarian cancer and cervical cancer.
Here’s the part that still humbles me: I did not know this—even as a practicing gynecologist.
Why I Started This Blog
That realization is one of the reasons I decided to launch this blog: to amplify voices and break the silence. Silence shows up in so many places:- In clinical rooms where women minimize their symptoms - At family tables where “heavy periods” are brushed off as normal - In system-level gaps where research and resources for fibroids lag behind - In policy and funding conversations where uterine health is often sidelined I want this to be a space where we name those gaps and start closing them.
Key Facts About Fibroids You Should Know. Let’s start with a few essential facts about fibroids:
Fact 1: July is Fibroid Awareness Month.
Fact 2: Teal is the color that symbolizes fibroid awareness.
Now, here are a few more “need-to-know” truths:
Fibroids can recur. Imagine going through the process of having them removed… only for them to grow back. I often call fibroids the “weeds of the uterus”—you pull them out, and they come back. How rude.
Most fibroids are benign. Despite often being called “fibroid tumors,” they are usually non-cancerous. The word “tumor” can make people immediately think “cancer,” and I want to be very clear: fibroids are typically not cancerous.
Fibroids are common—and often silent. Many women have fibroids and don’t even know it. Some discover them incidentally on imaging; others live for years normalizing symptoms like heavy bleeding, pelvic pressure, or fatigue.
This is why awareness matters: if you don’t know fibroids are common, you may not recognize that your symptoms are worth talking about.
Why Awareness Matters
Fibroid awareness isn’t just about knowing a month or a ribbon color. It’s about:- Helping women recognize when their symptoms are not “just how it is” - Encouraging honest conversations with clinicians, partners, and families - Pushing for better research, better treatment options, and better policies
You deserve to understand your body, your options, and your voice in your care.
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