The first time I heard the name fibroid, is the one I remember. I was a young lady, in one of the waiting rooms in a ladies clinic in Lagos. One of the ladies sitting next to me was sobbing. It had just been revealed to her that she has multiple fibroids. She seemed fine, healthy, pretty and strong but deep inside her womb there was something growing that did not belong inside it. I found out that day that could be true about fibroids, they do not knock on the door before entering. They simply creep in and to most women they assume control. Fibroids occur as lumps in or around the womb of a woman. They are not cancer, but can cause plenty of mischief nevertheless. There are some women that have fibroids so very tiny to the point they never realize they even have them. Some of them have huge fibroids and their stomach bulges out as though they are pregnant. And here is the terribly sad reality- in Nigeria, fibroids seem to make women like us their favourite prey. The solution starts with something very inside our body-hormones. We, as ladies, can synthesize estrogen, and progesterone. This is because our menstrual cycle is regulated by these hormones which also nourish fibroids. You can imagine fibroids as the guests who were not supposed to come to the party, and your breast-feed hormones are what they are fed. The greater the amount of hormones, the larger they may develop.  [Image Source](https://pixabay.com/illustrations/fibroids-fibroids-model-2947712/) It is the reason why fibroids predominantly occur during the child bearing age of a woman between her early 20s up to her late 40s as her hormones are most high at this period. Once the decrease of hormone levels sets in after menopause, the fibroids tend to become smaller. What of the years leading up to that? That is their playground. And that is where I get even more personal now. Women of other races are less prone to fibroids as compared to the black woman, particularly the African woman. Other analyses suggest that we are three times as likely. But why? Some of it runs in our blood. You have increased chances especially when your mother, sister or aunt had fibroma. It is like an unwanted inheritance that nobody has spoken about but it has continually been transferred generation to generation. The other aspect is the response of our bodies to hormones. The wombs of some of the women are just more sensitive and the fibroids grow quicker. And finally, there is lifestyle- the food we consume, the stress which we carry, the late nights, the lack of exercise. These minor customs could be the tipping point towards fibroids and we might not even realize it. There is, however, still one third mute participant. And this one hurts to discuss. Our food is good, there is no denying it in Nigeria. Yet we consume much red meat, fried foods and junk food. We have sweetened beverages to cleanse it. Fruits and vegetables also have to do with the fact that they are perceived as an added effort. And until illness comes knocking we rarely acknowledge the power of clean eating.  [Image Source](https://pixabay.com/illustrations/fibroids-fibroids-model-2947710/) Then there is stress which is the silent killer. Women have to do heavy loads on a daily basis. Not the physical loads, but also emotional ones. Stress of marriage, professional, social norms. Stress, interferes with our hormones and where we have imbalanced hormones, fibroids become jovial and healthy. The most tragic thing is that, most of us disregard the first symptoms. Fibroids do not always make a racket. And sometimes they begin in a quiet way, heavier periods than normal, cramps that are more painful than previously, a bloating stomach without pregnancy, the constant need to urinate, backaches. These are the signs which slip in gradually and we say to ourselves, it is normal. It is a women thing.” Here is the thing though, it is not always normal. The abnormal growth of fibroids increases when we delay. I have seen women who are neglectful of such pointers only to find the womb filled with fibroids like stones in a basket. Until they had reached the hospital, they realized surgery was all that was left to do. Fibroids are frightening. They may be painful, heavy and lead to infertility and other cases of emotional distress. But this is what I want you to know; it is not the end with fibroids. Most women continue to lead complete, happy lives despite the diagnosis. Others get surgery and have children. Others cope with their symptoms and live fine. All we can do, is not pretend that they do not exist. We have to speak of them-at home, among our friends, in our churches, at women's meetings. It is due to the fact that the less we reveal the more women suffer in silence. Do not feel alone because you have fibroids. Do not be hesitant to know whether you have them in case you suspect that you do. This is because knowledge is power. And even should you be reading this and have no symptoms, this is what I want you to remember, treat your body in the present. Your womb is a treasure- keep it as dear as you can. Well simply because, fibroids may be widespread but that does not make them run our lives. We are so much stronger than them. And the more often we experience them, the sooner we get the victory.