The first fibroid awareness day aims to break the silence

MONTREAL, July 21, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Vivre 100 Fibromes (life without fibroids) officially declared July 21 today^St as Canada’s first Fibroid Awareness Day – a date to increase understanding and shine a light on uterine fibroids, which affect approximately 70% of all women over the age of 50 with many ongoing symptoms and silent suffering.^I

“Since I founded Vivre 100 Fibromes in 2016, my goal has been to build a community to support women living with uterine fibroids to ensure they have appropriate access to resources and treatment options,” says Aïssatou Sidibé, President of Vivre 100 Fibromes. “When I was diagnosed in 2013, I waited too long to see a specialist and experienced this condition alone – but my life improved significantly when I made lifestyle changes to manage my anemia, and I got one in 2018 underwent successful surgery.”

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that can develop on the inside, outside, and wall of the uterus.ⁱⁱ Symptoms of uterine fibroids can include heavier, prolonged, or painful periods, abdominal pain, anemia, painful intercourse, frequent and unusual urges to urinate, infertility, or miscarriage.ⁱⁱⁱ Women of color are more likely to be diagnosed with uterine fibroids, with 25% of black women being diagnosed by age 25.^IV

“My journey with the disease has been quite intense and Live 100 fibroids was like family to me when I really hit a wall,” says Nydia Laplante, an entrepreneur and step fitness instructor who had a six-inch fibroid removed through a delicate but routine surgical procedure (myomectomy). It gave me hope and a support system where I had access to all of these women with the same lived experience.”

30 to 50% of women are carriers of fibroids, with symptoms that vary from woman to woman. In Canada alone, uterine fibroids account for 30% of hysterectomies, the second most common surgery in women after a cesarean.^v Early detection and treatment…