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Chidi said she also hopes people learn from her story to listen to their bodies and to self-advocate at the doctor's office by asking for the testing and imaging they need if there is concern for uterine fibroids.

\"The sooner that you can bring it to the table the better, in the sense that there are things that can be done sometimes to help fibroids when they are really small,\" she said. \"By the time I found mine, they were really large and surgery was going to be the only intervention that could help.\"

What to know about uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids are most common in women of childbearing age, reaching their peak when women are in their 30s to 50s and then becoming less common after menopause, according to the Office on Women's Health.

Fibroids, which are typically round growths, can range in size from an apple seed to a grapefruit. The typically benign tumors may cause no symptoms in some people but debilitating symptoms in others, including stomach and back pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, longer and more painful periods, bloating, frequent urination and anemia, due to blood loss, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Miscarriages and infertility may also be symptoms of uterine fibroids, according to group.

While there is no known cause of fibroids, factors that may increase their risk include aging, obesity, family history of uterine fibroids, vitamin D deficiency, high blood pressure and no history of pregnancy, according to the Office on Women's Health.

While all women can present with fibroids, African-American women have the highest rates. Every woman should have regular and open conversations with their doctor to monitor and manage these symptoms, and treat as needed, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says.

Symptoms and treatment options depend largely on the size and location of the fibroid, according to Dr. Jennifer Ashton, ABC News chief medical correspondent and a board-certified OB-GYN.

For example, fibroids that are small and do not cause symptoms, often require no treatment.

Signs to ask a doctor about treatment for fibroids include symptoms like heavy and painful periods, bleeding between periods, infertility or concerns about the growth or type of tumor itself, according to ACOG.

Treatment for uterine fibroids may include medications to reduce the symptoms of fibroids, but ACOG notes medications like birth control pills \"may not prevent the growth of fibroids.\"

There are also multiple surgical options for fibroids, ranging from the minimally invasive endometrial ablation to more complicated procedures like a myomectomy to remove fibroids or a hysterectomy to remove the uterus entirely.

\"There are more options today than ever before,\" Ashton said. \"When women go for their treatment options, they need to ask about all options, not just the one that surgeon can do himself or herself.\"

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