Fibroid Awareness Month: Understanding Fibroids and Your Treatment Options

July 2, 2026 Richmond Vascular Center

By Dr. Brian Strife, MD, Vascular and Interventional Radiologist

July is Fibroid Awareness Month, but for many women, living with uterine fibroids is something they think about every day.

Throughout my career, I have met countless women who have spent months, and often years, suffering from heavy bleeding, severe cramps, fatigue, or bloating that impacted nearly every aspect of their lives. Many were told their symptoms were normal, or they assumed these symptoms were simply something they had to endure.

As an interventional radiologist with a special interest in women’s health, one of the most important parts of my job is not performing procedures. It’s listening to each woman’s story.

Every woman deserves to understand what is happening in her body and to know the treatment options that exist. Fibroid Awareness Month provides an opportunity to raise awareness, encourage conversations, and remind women that they do not have to suffer in silence.

What Are Uterine Fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths that develop within the muscular wall of the uterus. They are extremely common and can range from tiny fibroids that cause few or no symptoms to much larger growths that significantly affect daily life. Some women have a single fibroid, while others develop several.

Fibroids do not affect everyone equally. Black women are more likely to develop fibroids at younger ages, experience larger or more numerous fibroids, and often have more severe symptoms. Because of these disparities, early diagnosis and evaluation by an experienced fibroid specialist are especially important.

How Fibroids Affect Daily Life

When patients come to see me, they are rarely concerned only about the fibroids themselves. They are worried about what those symptoms have taken from them.

Some women plan every outing around access to a restroom because of heavy bleeding. They pack extra clothes in case of soiling. Many plan vacations, family events, and even their work schedules around their menstrual cycle. Others miss work, avoid social activities, or stop participating in things they once enjoyed because they are exhausted or in pain. Many simply feel frustrated that they have been told these symptoms are something they should just live with.

Can Fibroids Affect Mental Health?

Fibroids affect much more than physical health. They can impact emotional well-being, relationships, self-confidence, and overall quality of life.

Living with heavy bleeding, chronic pain, or fatigue month after month will wear anyone down. This is why treating the whole patient, not just the fibroids, is so important.

Diagnosing Uterine Fibroids

Evaluation begins with a detailed history exploring how fibroid symptoms are affecting a woman’s daily life. We also spend time reviewing any other health issues that may be related or unrelated to ensure we have a complete picture of your health before making treatment recommendations.

Imaging such as pelvic ultrasound or MRI is obtained and reviewed in detail. For many women, there is a “seeing is believing” moment when they view their MRI or ultrasound and finally understand the source of their symptoms. The fibroid features, including their size, location, and number, should correlate well with the symptoms and help explain why they are occurring.

Understanding Your Treatment Options

One of the biggest challenges women with fibroids face is not knowing that effective nonsurgical treatment options even exist. Many women are simply unaware of Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) and other minimally invasive treatments that may allow them to avoid major surgery.

Today, women have more evidence-based treatment options than ever before. Depending on the fibroid features, along with a woman’s symptoms and treatment goals, management may include observation, medication, ablation, UFE, myomectomy, or hysterectomy.

As an interventional radiologist, I perform Uterine Fibroid Embolization, a minimally invasive outpatient procedure that treats fibroids by blocking their blood supply, causing them to soften and shrink over time. More than 30 years of clinical experience and published research have shown that UFE provides significant symptom improvement for most women, with high patient satisfaction and a shorter recovery than traditional surgery. Many women appreciate that UFE allows them to avoid major surgery while preserving the uterus.

However, UFE is not the right treatment for everyone. My goal is never to convince someone to choose a specific procedure. My role is to ensure each woman understands all of her treatment options and has the information she needs to make the decision that is right for her.

Take the First Step Toward Relief

Throughout my career, I have learned that the best care begins with trust, compassion, and honest conversations. If Fibroid Awareness Month encourages even one woman to seek answers or ask questions she has been putting off, then it has served an important purpose.

At Richmond Vascular Center, we are committed to providing evidence-based care delivered with empathy and the personal attention every patient deserves. We believe women with fibroids deserve more than a brief office visit and a one-size-fits-all recommendation. Our mission is to raise the bar for fibroid care by ensuring every woman understands her treatment options and receives care tailored to her individual goals. If fibroids are affecting your life, we are here to listen, answer your questions, and help you choose the treatment that is right for you.

Schedule a consultation today.