Humanist

Plenty of women, 40 – 80% of us who have a uterus have fibroids. This assertion is backed by scientific findings, for example, which found 80% of Nigerian women aged 25 years and above likely have uterine fibroids. An incidence rate which likely holds true also for Uganda.

Don’t panic though, “only a small percentage of fibroid tumours need treatment.” In the majority who have them, fibroids remain harmless and benign. The reason I am befuddled by the alarming advice in ‘the apology’, “those living with fibroids, seek medical attention for fibroids are treatable! Early diagnosis greatly improves outcomes.” What was that about?

That a lot of women are living with fibroids is a fact known for ages, nothing new. De facto, falsifying assertions in ‘the apology’ that “uterine fibroids are of late increasing in prevalence” and that “health experts have observed that fibroids are increasing in society.”

To extrapolate ‘the problem’ to the wider society is dangerously Machiavellian; and without empirical evidence to back such assertions, how can we be expected to accept them as fact?

Back to proven scientific facts. Empirical data indicates black women are more risk prone to have fibroids as compared to white women. Nevertheless, whereas, race is among known risk factors, it is not the cause of uterine fibroids.

Other risk factors indicated by scientists, but are not necessarily causes of uterine fibroids include: family history – alluding to genetics; starting periods before the age of 10; being low on Vitamin D; having a diet higher in red meat and lower in green vegetables, fruit and diary; drinking alcohol; and obesity.

Yes, scientists, medical professionals, empirical researchers are unanimously agreed that the “exact cause of uterine fibroids isn’t clear.” And because of that “it might be impossible to prevent uterine fibroids.”

‘The apology’ claims the original post “was entirely aimed at raising awareness about uterine fibroids,” that it “was diverse and varied as a result misunderstood.” This is dishonest and it can be proven by a discourse analysis of said post. There was no mistaking the intent of the joke post, pun intended.  

It was designed to and elicited misogynistic commentary perpetuating the condemned and false narrative of “let us shame her for getting fibroids because she has chosen not to have children.” And or which is used to scare women into having children, in this case young women wanting to hold off on marriage and motherhood to pursue career first.

To claim it was misunderstood is insulting as the original post was insensitive and contained unprofessional messaging around women’s mental health as well as physical health. In fact, ‘the apology’ makes matters worse. It does not walk back the central false logic of the original offensive post, which insinuated that nulliparous women are only those who have never been pregnant.

Nulliparous women, matter of scientific fact, include women who have experienced miscarriages and still birth. It is hard to believe that women who have experienced such trauma of losing a pregnancy or baby, and becoming nulliparous, misunderstood the original post. Its gist was clearly in the realm of shame her for not having children.

Ironically, moreover, “studies show that uterine fibroids tend to grow when hormone levels are higher (like during pregnancy).” As in, for some women, getting pregnant is what may trigger their otherwise benign and unproblematic fibroid(s) to grow and to become problematic needing medical intervention.

I clarify. I am not in any way advocating that medical practitioners should not engage in raising awareness about fibroids. This is absolutely needed. For example, in writing this post, I consulted online resources on websites of medical professionals, such as the Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic. I also relied on articles published in peer reviewed academic journals.

Within the gambit of the Hippocratic Oath that medical professionals take, both the original fibroid post and ‘the apology’ post do not pass the do no harm ideal.  In which case, I am more inclined to suggest that it would be better for a doctor who sees female patients not to make jokes on social media about uterine fibroids.

I imagine if I was one of the patients of the ‘social media influencer doctor’ and in the category joked about, I would be both traumatized and offended to the extent that I would change doctors. For I would feel that the doctor, in contradiction of the Hippocratic oath, does not respect patient autonomy and may have issues with maintaining confidentiality.

Advisedly, medical professionals would be better placed to engage in driving awareness about uterine fibroids through conversations that are conducted in a manner that adheres to internationally accepted principals prescribed for collecting and sharing empirical evidence.

Awareness raising in a manner which does no harm to patient – physically, emotionally and or psychologically.

Recommended Reading:

• Knowledge of, perceptions of, and attitude towards unterine fibroids among women with fibroids in Lagos Nigeria (Adgbesan-Omalibu et al)
• Uterine fibroids in women (Osma Mutawe)