Studies show that fibroids impact Black women earlier and more severely, yet their voices are often left out of the broader healthcare conversation. At the Fibroid Foundation, we highlight personal stories to shed light on the lived realities of fibroids, medical bias, and self-advocacy.
In this interview, Fibroid Foundation Marketing & Communications Coordinator, Nicole, spoke with Fibroid Foundation Community Member La-Anna Douglas, a dedicated fibroid advocate who shares her powerful journey of misdiagnosis, dismissal, and ultimately, self-empowerment.
Nicole: Can you share a little bit about your journey with fibroids? When did you first realize that something was wrong?
La-Anna: My journey with fibroids is pretty unique. I suffered for 16 years with horrible, debilitating menstrual cycles, not understanding what was going on with my body, my pain being minimized, going to different doctors, and not understanding their diagnosis. They just labeled me as the girl with bad periods, which was pretty frustrating for me. I felt like my body betrayed me, I was feeling alone. And then after several years of advocating and speaking up for myself, I was finally diagnosed at the age of 26, after a laparoscopic surgery, with fibroids, 2 uteruses, 2 cervixes, and endometriosis. And I was overwhelmed, shocked, never even heard of fibroids or any of the other reproductive health issues I had going on. So, I was overwhelmed, and then I felt validation. I kept saying for years “Something is going on with my body” and they just kept labeling me as the girl with bad periods. [After my diagnosis] it was like finally somebody is listening to me, somebody actually understood what I was going through and wanted to do everything they could to care for me. And I’m so grateful for my doctor who said “I know what is going on with you, let’s get you scheduled for surgery”, and the rest is history.
Nicole: Your story is always so telling of the dangers of not paying attention and what can happen when someone finally does. Let’s talk about before you were diagnosed with fibroids, what was your daily life like?
La-Anna: I was tired a lot. I was popping ibuprofen to try to minimize the pain, but it felt like they were like candy. It was taking the edge off but I was still suffering. Sometimes I’d just be laying in bed unable to move around, sometimes at work. I remember this one episode when I was in so much pain, I just passed out. I would have to take breaks to just lay down at work. I would have accidents. When I was a kid, getting up out of a chair in class and looking down and there’s blood all over the chair. All of that was so frustrating, especially as a little girl. I started my period at the age of 10. Having accidents, blood running down your legs or getting up from the chair or getting out of bed looking down at your bedspread and theres blood everythwhere, it was just a lot. It was overwhelming. Today, we have so many resources, so many people talking about for their bodies, so many people advocating. Back then, I didn’t know anyone. I felt like I was the only one having bad periods, and I suffered in silence for years. 16 years, my mom taking me to doctors appointments, being rushed to the emergency room, my parents praying over me, my mom heating up towels when I was cramping so badly. All of these things I was going through and no one in the medical field was listening, and it was frustrating, especially as a Black woman. You’re already not listened to and belittled and then when it comes to your care, they’re just like, “Oh, you’re fine. We’re going to give you this IV and speculum exam and we’re going to sign your chart and you’re going to go home.” It happened to me so many times.
Nicole: I’m so sorry.
As a Black woman, tell me more about your experience navigating the medical system. Do you feel you were dismissed, misdiagnosed, or unheard because you’re a Black woman?
La-Anna: My journey was frustrating. It was overwhelming. Going into a doctor’s office or ER and you’re pleading saying “I’m in so much pain. I don’t know what’s going on with me. I’m hurting SO bad, I’m losing so much blood,” and to just be dismissed? It’s like – did you hear what I said? I’m in pain. And you can see nurses talking to each other and their facial expressions are like “She’s lying.” And it’s like no, I’m not. I’m really in pain. I can’t take this. And it happened for years. I was turned away, I was told to just go home, take your motrin. And on top of that, I only have one kidney and in the back of my mind I’m worried about taking so much ibuprofen. Sometimes I was like I’ll just suffer and take it. And I knew I only had one kidney since I was born, but not knowing the reproductive things that were going on with me, it was frustrating.
Nicole: I can imagine. Thank you so much for sharing your journey. Now that you’re on the “other side”, what do you wish more Black women knew about fibroids & their reproductive health?
La-Anna: You’re not alone. You do not have to suffer in silence. You have every right to advocate for yourself and speak up for yourself, because it’s your body. You have to speak up for yourself, if nobody else in the room speaks up for you, your voice matters. And if you’re going to doctor’s appointments and getting all this information, and it’s overwhelming, ask your doctor if you can record it on your phone, or bring in a family member or friend or just someone to be in the room with you to support you. And even if they can’t be in the room with you, they’re there in the waiting room supporting you. Surround yourself with love on the journey. I know for myself, I was at a point of suicide because I was so depressed because I didn’t know what was going on with my body. Being diagnosed with fibroids and everything else and then dealing with infertility, it was a lot and overwhelming. So I needed a support system. I needed people who would be in my corner who would speak up for me if I was in too much pain. “Listen to my daughter, listen to my wife. Her voice matters. It’s her body.” Also, do not suffer for too long. It’s easy to sit in your corner and say no one needs to know what I’m going through. NO! Scream it from your lungs. “I am tired of being in pain. What can be done to help me?” What is the point to suffer in pain and not speak up for yourself? Don’t be afraid.
I was very afraid, especially in my 20s. I was very timid, I was self conscious, I had low self esteem and so sometimes when they would say “Oh you just have a cyst on your ovaries,” and I would say “Ok” and just go home. But in my 30s and 40s I gained my confidence. You’re going to do an ultrasound, you’re going to do an MRI, you’re going to schedule a hysteroscopy, you’re going to schedule a surgery. Whatever needs to be done to figure out whats going on with my body. You have the right to speak up for yourself. Don’t let anyone tell you who you are or belittle you, because medical bias is real. It’s ok for you to ask for a Black doctor, or a minority doctor.
I thank God that towards the latter part of my care I’ve had so many Black doctors and female doctors. Thats nothing against male doctors, but I feel like the latter part of my journey was totally different, especially when it came to Black and female doctors. It was like a lightbuld went off. “Oh Mrs. Douglas, what you’re experiencing, I’ve seen in patients before.” “What do you mean? All of the other doctors told me I was the only one. But you’re telling me there are other women out there going through the same thing?” So it’s ok to speak up and ask for a Black doctor, a woman, whatever, because you have the right to do that. And you are enough. I tell all my sisters out there, you are enough. You are worthy of love, and most importantly, love yourself on the journey. Tell yourself that you’re beautiful, tell yourself that you’re strong and tell yourself that you are enough.