Common, unspoken: The health issue of fibroids thrives on silence

Uniquely Milwaukee · May 28, 2026 · 4m

“I just felt like the uterus that I had was a problem, and I wanted it out right away."

At 38 years old, Tonda Thompson faced an issue that impacts many women: fibroids.

For many months, they caused the mother of two pain and confusion. She said frequent trips to the emergency room and eventually demanding an ultrasound led to doctors finding several of the growths in her body, including one about the size of an apple.

The medical condition affects more than 70% of women before the age of 50, with Black women at an even higher risk. The cause is unknown, but experts believe genetics, and…