What fibroids are, why they're so common, the tests that find them, every treatment option to ask about and how to advocate for the care you deserve.
For education only. Not medical advice. Always talk with your primary care provider about your health.
So many women tell me they've had heavy, painful periods for years and were told it's just how their body is. They carry extra clothes, plan around bathrooms and feel exhausted from losing blood every month.
Fibroids are extremely common, and Black women are affected earlier, more often and more severely. You are not alone, and you have more options than you may have been told.
This guide will help you understand fibroids, know which tests to ask for and walk into your appointment ready to talk about every option, including the ones that protect your fertility.
Please read: this is education, not medical advice. This guide is designed to help you understand your body and have a better conversation with your healthcare provider. It cannot diagnose or treat you. Please see your primary care provider (or specialist) about your symptoms, and never start, stop or change a medication without them.
Check every statement that fits. The more you check, the more likely these root causes are playing a part.
Your count: 0 of 14. Heavy bleeding is not something you have to accept. If you checked several of these, especially the bleeding questions, please talk with your provider soon.
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths of the muscle of the uterus. They can be as small as a seed or larger than a grapefruit, there can be one or many, and they can grow inside the uterine cavity, within the wall or on the outside.
Most women will develop fibroids at some point. Many never have symptoms. Symptoms depend on size and location: fibroids that push into the cavity often cause heavy bleeding, while large fibroids can press on the bladder, bowel or back.
Estrogen and progesterone fuel fibroid growth. That's why fibroids often grow during the reproductive years and usually shrink after menopause.
Having a mother or sister with fibroids raises your risk.
Black women develop fibroids earlier, more often and with more severe symptoms, and research into why is ongoing.
Low vitamin D has been linked with fibroid risk in research studies.
Higher body weight and insulin resistance are associated with higher risk.
Starting your period at a young age means more years of hormone exposure.
Myth: "The only fix is a hysterectomy." There are many options, from medications to minimally invasive procedures to surgeries that keep the uterus. Ask about all of them.
Your body, soul and spirit are connected. Here are the Honeycomb cells that matter most for this pattern, and one practice for each.
Rebuild iron with iron-rich foods and vitamin C, and ask about your vitamin D.
Daniel 1:12–15Use your voice. Describe your bleeding with numbers and say clearly how it affects your life.
Proverbs 18:21Talk to the women in your family. Your family history matters to your care.
Ecclesiastes 4:9–12Look for answers, a clear plan, better iron levels and energy, and freedom from planning your life around your period.
Your provider will decide which tests are right for you. These are the ones commonly used to evaluate heavy bleeding and fibroids.
| Test | What it tells you | Ask your provider |
|---|---|---|
| Pelvic exam | Your provider may feel an enlarged or irregular uterus. | Does my exam suggest fibroids? |
| Transvaginal and pelvic ultrasound | The most common test to see fibroids, their size and their location. | How many fibroids, how big and where? |
| Saline-infusion sonogram or hysteroscopy | Looks inside the uterine cavity for fibroids or polyps. | Are any fibroids inside the cavity? |
| Pelvic MRI | Maps fibroids in detail, often before procedures. | Would an MRI help plan treatment? |
| CBC and ferritin | Checks for anemia and low iron stores from heavy bleeding. | Am I anemic or low in iron? |
| Vitamin D | Low levels are common and linked with fibroid risk. | Should I supplement? |
| Thyroid panel | Thyroid problems can also cause heavy periods. | Could my thyroid be contributing? |
Treatment depends on your symptoms, fibroid size and location, and whether you want to preserve fertility. Only your provider can recommend what's right for you.
If symptoms are mild, monitoring with periodic ultrasounds may be reasonable.
Good to know: Fibroids often shrink after menopause.
Options like tranexamic acid, hormonal birth control or a hormonal IUD can reduce bleeding.
Good to know: They manage symptoms but don't remove fibroids.
Newer oral medications can reduce bleeding by lowering hormone levels.
Good to know: Ask about side effects and how long they can be used.
A minimally invasive procedure that blocks blood flow to fibroids so they shrink.
Good to know: Performed by an interventional radiologist; ask about fertility impact.
Surgery that removes fibroids and keeps the uterus.
Good to know: Often recommended for women who want future pregnancy.
Ablation shrinks fibroids with heat; hysterectomy removes the uterus and is the only permanent cure.
Good to know: Ask about recovery and long-term effects of each.
These two weeks are about gathering evidence for your appointment and supporting your body while you wait for answers.
Food won't shrink fibroids, but it can help rebuild iron, ease constipation and support healthy estrogen balance.
Check the box each day you do it, and rate your symptoms 1 (great) to 5 (rough). Watch the trend, not any single day.
| Habit | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pads or tampons used (number) | ||||||||||||||
| Largest clot (dime, quarter, bigger) | ||||||||||||||
| Iron food plus vitamin C | ||||||||||||||
| Water intake | ||||||||||||||
| Fiber at meals | ||||||||||||||
| Rested when needed | ||||||||||||||
| Pain / pressure (1–5) | ||||||||||||||
| Energy (1–5) | ||||||||||||||
| Mood (1–5) |
How has my period changed the way I live, work or love?
What have I accepted as 'normal' that I'm ready to ask about?
What would it feel like to have a plan and real answers?
Lord, You know every part of me. Give me strength on the heavy days, clarity in my appointments and providers who listen. Guide me to the right care and give me peace while I wait for answers. Amen.
Inside the Academy you'll find deep-dive lessons on fibroids, heavy bleeding, iron, estrogen balance and how to advocate in women's health care. Plus weekly live coaching calls and a faith-centered community. $37/month after a 7-day free trial. Cancel anytime.
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This guide is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition. It is not a substitute for individualized care from a qualified healthcare professional, and reading it does not create a provider-patient relationship. Do not start, stop or change any medication without talking to your provider. © The Hormone Honey. Free for personal use; please do not resell.