UTERINE fibroids, non-cancerous growths of the womb, continue to place a heavy burden on Jamaican women. Though the cause is unknown yet multifaceted – ethnicity, genetics, diet etc – fibroids continue to burden our women financially, emotionally and physically.

Affecting thousands across the island, these growths can cause debilitating symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, infertility, and complications during pregnancy. While fibroids are common, the delay in seeking timely medical attention often transforms a manageable condition into one that requires complex and high-risk surgical intervention. I would say 70 per cent of Jamaican women have asymptomatic fibroids which in time can become symptomatic.

A culture of delay in presentation

In Jamaica, many women normalise their symptoms or resort to home remedies before seeking professional help. Others face barriers such as fear of surgery, financial struggles, stigma surrounding reproductive health, or limited access to specialist care. By the time these women arrive at a gynaecologist’s office, fibroids have often grown to large sizes, distorting the uterus and affecting nearby organs.

This delay has serious consequences. Surgeries become longer, more complicated, and riskier. A relatively straightforward procedure to remove a small fibroid can, after years of neglect, require an extensive open surgery with higher risks of blood loss, longer recovery times, and in some cases, hysterectomy (removal of the womb).

The importance of early intervention

Early diagnosis and treatment can dramatically improve outcomes for women with fibroids. When detected in their smaller stages, fibroids are far easier to manage, with treatment options that may preserve fertility and minimise risk. Gynaecologists can offer medical therapies, minimally invasive surgeries, and lifestyle guidance to slow progression and reduce symptoms.

The key message is clear: do not wait until fibroids take over your quality of life. Heavy periods, anaemia, bloating, and chronic pelvic pain should never be ignored. Seeking early gynaecological assessment allows women to take control of their health and prevent complex outcomes.

Treatment options exist

For Jamaican women, a wide range of options now exist beyond traditional surgery. These include:

•Medication: Hormonal treatments can temporarily shrink fibroids and control symptoms.

•Vegan diets have proved to help decrease fibroid volume and symptoms

•Minimally invasive procedures: Techniques such as laparoscopic or hysteroscopic surgery, minimal laparotomies (small open incisions) can remove fibroids with smaller cuts, shorter recovery, and fewer complications.

•Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE): A radiology procedure that blocks blood flow to fibroids, causing them to shrink.

•Traditional myomectomy: Surgical removal of fibroids while preserving the uterus, best suited for women wishing to retain fertility.

•Hysterectomy: Removal of the uterus, often reserved for very large or multiple fibroids when other methods are unsuitable.

•Recently, a study was published in the United States that used green tea extract (800 mg per day) combined with high dose Vitamin D on a subset of patients – the study revealed a significant decrease in fibroid volume and symptoms over three months.

The variety of treatments available underscores the importance of early engagement with healthcare providers. Each woman’s journey is unique, and care can be tailored to individual needs.

A call to action

Uterine fibroids are not just a medical condition — they are a public health concern affecting productivity, emotional well-being, and family life. The longer women wait to seek help, the more difficult their treatment path becomes.

We must break the cycle of silence and delay. By encouraging regular gynaecological check-ups, reducing stigma, and improving awareness of the available treatment options, Jamaican women can reclaim control of their reproductive health.

The message is simple: fibroids do not have to control your life. Early intervention saves wombs, reduces complications, and restores quality of life.

It’s frustrating as a women’s health care provider when women delay treatment, please don’t normalise the abnormal – seek treatment early !

Even if fibroids are asymptomatic, it is crucial to get yearly assessments to ensure they are not enlarging or causing symptoms.

Dr Daryl Daley is a cosmetic gynaecologist and obstetrician. He is located at 3D Gynaecology Limited, 23 Tangerine Place, Kingston 10. Feel free to contact Dr Daley at ddaley@3dgynae.com.

Dr Daryl Daley.