Workshops

Fibroid Stories: Black Women Speaking Openly About Fibroids and Reproductive Care

Note this is a two-part workshop, it is recommended but NOT required that participants attend both workshops if possible.

Part One:  Yes, It’s Time We All Go There: Fibroids, Black Women and Reproductive Care

This workshop will discuss the symptoms and treatments of uterine fibroids as it pertains to Black women and Black women’s reproductive care.  Uterine fibroids affect more than half of women by age 50, and are more common and have earlier onset among African American women than among white women. Despite the availability of alternative treatments, only a small proportion of Black women with fibroids receive alternative therapies and treatments.  In this workshop we will discuss ways to identify fibroids, the impact of fibroids on Black women’s lives, how to access care, and conventional and alternative treatments plans.  Participants will also be given a menstruation journal which will help them keep track of their periods and prepare to create a reproductive healthcare plan.

Part Two: Talking About Fibroids and Our Bodies: Creating Support and Developing a Plan for Your Reproductive Care

Part two of the series focuses on strategies for developing a reproductive care plan and creating a personal healthcare narrative when seeking treatment for fibroids.  Specifically, we will discuss the menstruation journals, how to use them to help you identify fibroid symptoms, and utilizing them to facilitate discussing fibroids with care providers.  Participants will also discuss strategies for developing a care plan and ways to communicate this plan with their care network.  While the emphasis will be on strategies and approaches centering on fibroid care and treatment, this workshop would benefit all women and can be utilized even if you do not have a specific medical “condition.”