Ultimately Williams discovered Taraneh Shirazian, MD, a board-certified gynecologist and director of the Middle for Fibroid Care at NYU Langone. “It was superb for me as a result of I used to be capable of speak to somebody who felt assured that they might deal with me,” Williams says.
Not like many medical professionals within the US, Dr. Shirazian takes a holistic, customized strategy to fibroid therapy, viewing it as a continual ailment that wants steady care relatively than one thing to vaguely monitor—or, however, deal with with a one-and-done surgical procedure. As a part of her mannequin, Dr. Shirazian additionally seems to be at how the situation impacts different features of a affected person’s life, like fertility and basic discomfort.
For Williams, this led to a extra complete analysis: The athlete realized that she additionally had an adenomyoma, which meant along with her fibroids, the liner of her uterus was rising into her uterine wall.
“I used to be the primary individual to ever inform her [of the condition],” Dr. Shirazian tells SELF. “I might inform once I mentioned it that she by no means heard concerning the adenomyoma earlier than, and once you hear one thing for the primary time, you want time to actually perceive it, give it some thought, and are available to phrases with what you wish to do.”
Williams shares that whereas it felt good to be told, she left the workplace terrified. “For the primary time in my life ever, [I thought,] Why me? Why do I’ve to [go through] this?”
There have been just a few programs of therapy Williams might take, in response to Dr. Shirazian: Uterine-sparing surgical procedure, which might take away the fibroids however depart the uterus in place, could be the most suitable choice, although radiofrequency remedies might additionally assist shrink the fibroids and relieve some ache. Although trepidatious, Williams opted for the surgical procedure. “Surgical procedure fully removes illness,” the gynecologist explains. “[Venus] had been struggling for all that point. Clearly we at all times should be monitoring, however given her private historical past, her signs, and once more, simply with that eye on what could be good for her particularly, we arrived at that conclusion.”
“I simply keep in mind I went into the [operating room] and I began to get a little bit afraid once more,” Williams recollects. “[Dr. Shirazian] held my hand and I used to be out. I do not keep in mind a lot after that, however I keep in mind she held my hand, and that meant a lot.”
The surgical procedure occurred in July 2024. It was a hit, and Williams had no problems. Inside a day or two, she was up and shifting round. By day 30 of her post-op restoration, she absolutely felt like herself once more—simply with out the extreme bleeding and ache.
Ultimately, after a long time of struggling, Williams felt reduction—inside simply three months of assembly Dr. Shirazian. “I went by way of quite a bit, and you’ll think about that I might have entry to the most effective well being care—and I did. However I nonetheless did not have the most effective well being care [until I went to NYU],” Williams shares.
With wherever from 40% to 80% of individuals with a uterus being prone to develop fibroids by 50—with Black girls 3 times extra prone to get them, and get them at a youthful age in comparison with white girls—Williams’s hope is that sharing her story will encourage others to hunt the assistance they might not understand they want.