Venus Williams Was Medically Gaslit About Her Fibroids for Years—How She Finally Got Answers
Experts reveal how to avoid the ordeal she endured
On July 22, Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, 45, made a triumphant return to the tennis court, winning her singles match at the DC Open tennis tournament after a sixteen-month hiatus. But it turns out she’d declared a bigger victory the year before, and it wasn’t on the court: Venus Williams triumphed over a decades-long struggle with uterine fibroids and medical gaslighting. Here’s how she made her voice heard, and how you can advocate for yourself if healthcare professionals aren’t taking your concerns seriously.
Venus Williams was gaslit about her fibroids for years
Just weeks before competing in the DC Open, Williams told Today that she’d suffered from severe menstrual symptoms for years. “My symptoms were extreme pain, so much in pain that maybe you throw up or you can’t get off the ground,” she said. “I missed practices because of it, just hugging the toilet.”
And in an interview with Self, she described how heavy her bleeding became. “It was always an ‘accident run’ to the bathroom,” Williams revealed. “At times you’re like, ‘Oh my God, I have to clean my pants.’ You have to take them off at a restaurant, wash them out—crazy stuff. That’s not normal.”
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But as she disclosed on Today, a doctor declared her symptoms were normal and “part of aging” when she was just 37. And even when she was eventually diagnosed with uterine fibroids, medical professionals failed to tell her the benign tumors were responsible for her symptoms. Nor did they offer her reasonable options for relief.
“They would tell me ‘we’ll just watch it,’” she shared with Self. And recalling the time that one physician recommended a hysterectomy, she said on Today she’d “never felt so sad” in her life.
Williams discovered she had fibroids through an Instagram ad
Believe it or not, it was an ad that Williams saw on Instagram that ultimately changed her life. Speaking at a Hologic Better TogetHer event, she told the audience how the ad detailed her symptoms and led to a light-bulb moment. “I didn’t associate fibroids with my symptoms—I didn’t even know fibroids had symptoms… So here comes Instagram and Instagram says ‘you don’t have to live this way.’ And I still remember where I was; I was with my mom. And I got so excited!”
Armed with her newfound knowledge, Williams did her own research and discovered NYU Langone Health’s Center for Fibroid Care. There, she consulted with Taraneh Shriazian, MD, and underwent a myomyectomy (a fibroid-removal surgery that preserves the uterus).
“Dismissal of women’s symptoms, blaming them on age or ‘just stress’ is pervasive.” —Somi Javaid, MD
Now she’s pain-free and has partnered with Dr. Shiriazian and the Center to help other women avoid the harrowing experience she went through. The advice she gives on the NYU Langone site: “For women who aren’t being heard, find a new doctor who listens. Everyone deserves to be heard and to receive the care they need. So keep searching for answers until you get them.”
Medical gaslighting is common among women
The term medical gaslighting is used to describe a situation in which medical professionals dismiss or downplay a patient’s concerns, often causing patients to doubt themselves. Unfortunately, Williams’ medical gaslighting experience is far from unique.
“Dismissal of women’s symptoms, blaming them on age or ‘just stress’ is pervasive,” notes Somi Javaid, MD, board-certified ob-gyn and founder of HerMD. “It’s why we have such profound delays in diagnosis when it comes to female health conditions.” And the consequences of delays in fibroid diagnosis and treatment can be serious.
“Fibroids are benign, meaning that they’re usually noncancerous growths or tumors,” Dr. Javaid explains. Experts estimate that 80 percent of women harbor them by the age of 50, and the growths may not trigger any symptoms. But those that do can cause substantial suffering.
“Aside from heavy bleeding and pain, they can cause problems with constipation and urination and lead to anemia, mental health problems and relationship problems,” Dr. Javaid says. And though fibroids may shrink after age 50 due to drop-offs in estrogen, that’s not always the case. “It’s not guaranteed,” confirms Dr. Javaid. “And for some women, symptoms can persist and even worsen.”
Being dismissed can have serious consequences
But fibroids are far from the only reason women experience medical gaslighting. A study in the journal Psychological Bulletin suggests that conditions including endometriosis, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and long COVID are often dismissed or minimized by physicians.
And research shows that Black women and people of color often experience medical gaslighting in the United States more often than white women. The issue can prove to be more than physical: Study authors say medical gaslighting can contribute to shame, anxiety, trauma and even suicide in some patients.
How to avoid medical gaslighting
Thanks to women like Williams, Dr. Shirazian and Dr. Javaid, information about fibroids and their treatment options is available at the NY Langone website and The White Dress Project. And no matter what symptoms you’re struggling with, the following tips can help you get the answers you deserve.
Keep a journal of your symptoms
“Nobody knows your body better than you, so document your symptoms,” Dr. Javaid advises. Jotting them down in a journal provides valuable information for both you and your healthcare provider.
Bring a friend
“Sometimes, if you’re going to ask a lot of questions, you forget because you’re getting a lot in,” Dr. Javaid grants. Taking along a friend or loved one who’ll remind you about crucial questions can help you get clarity. Plus, it can change the dynamics of your visit. “The provider may take the patient more seriously and be less dismissive if there’s a witness in the room,” she explains.
Seek a second opinion
If you still feel as if your doctor is dismissing or minimizing your symptoms despite your best efforts, don’t hesitate to ask for a second opinion. “Second opinions should always be welcome,” says Dr. Javaid, who adds that your current practitioner may be able to refer you to another. “If not, your insurance company can give you a list of providers,” she suggests. Also smart: Asking female friends (including those on social media) for physicians they recommend.
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