You’d be forgiven if you’d never heard of fibroids. I certainly hadn’t. So it’s surprising to learn just how common they are; as many as 77% of women between the ages of 20-50 have fibroids, and they disproportionately affect African-Caribbean women.

The true causes of fibroids aren’t fully known, but Miss Mez Aref-Adib, consultant gynaecologist at London Gynaecology, believes that hormone imbalances, genetics, diet and fertility are all contributing factors.

“Approximately 30% of fibroids will cause symptoms,” Aref-Adib tells Strong Women. “Some of the most common include abnormal bleeding, bleeding between periods, pain, infertility and pressure symptoms. Fibroids can press on surrounding organs as they grow, so constipation and urinary frequency are common issues, as is urinary retention (feeling unable to empty your bladder).”

Sateria Venable, CEO of The Fibroid Foundation, an organisation that supports and advocates for women affected by uterine fibroids, believes a concerning lack of research is preventing fibroids from being a healthcare priority. “We are decades behind in treating and understanding fibroids. They’re the most frequently diagnosed tumour in women, yet treatment options aren’t representative of the millions impacted.”

“My fibroid had started to turn to bone”: what it’s like to live with monster fibroids – and why it still takes years to get treatment