Hackensack Meridian Women’s Health Experts Highlight Uterus-Sparing Minimially Invasive Treatments Following Lupita Nyong’o Sharing Struggle with Fibroids
In the wake of actress Lupita Nyong’o’s recent, candid social media post about her ongoing battle with 77 uterine fibroids, the conversation around this common but often silently endured condition is more relevant than ever. Her story highlights a critical health issue that affects millions of women, many of whom suffer from debilitating symptoms without knowing their options.
Uterine fibroids (also known as myomas or leiomyomas) range in size from as small as a pinhead to as large as a grapefruit. They affect an estimated 26 million women in the U.S., with more than 15 million experiencing significant symptoms like heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain and bladder and bowel dysfunction. Research shows a staggering prevalence: by age 50, more than 80% of Black women and approximately 70% of white women will develop fibroids. Despite this, women often wait years before seeking a diagnosis and treatment.
Several factors can increase a woman’s risk of developing fibroids, including:
Vitamin D deficiency Early onset of menstruation Obesity A diet high in red meat
“Lupita Nyong’o’s story resonates with so many of my patients who have suffered in silence for years with heavy bleeding, pain, and pressure, thinking it was just a normal part of being a woman,” says Jocelyn Carlo, M.D., FACOG, director of gynecologic surgery at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, N.J. “Fibroids are treatable with more than a hysterectomy. It is vital that women feel empowered to speak up about their symptoms and seek expert care. A diagnosis is the first step toward reclaiming your quality of life, and today, there are more uterus-preserving and minimally invasive options than ever before.”
Hackensack Meridian Health is a leader in offering such advanced procedures. A number of HMH sites recently incorporated the Sonata® Transcervical Fibroid Ablation system, a targeted, incision-free procedure, that uses heat to address fibroids. This adds to existing, similar approaches such as the Acessa® Laparoscopic Fibroid Ablation system, uterine artery embolization and robotic myomectomies – offering women a range of minimally invasive options tailored to their specific needs.
“Hackensack Meridian Health is at the forefront of gynecological innovation, and our leadership in advanced fibroid treatment demonstrates this. By integrating cutting-edge technologies like the Sonata® Transcervical Fibroid Ablation system, we are fundamentally changing how we manage fibroids,” said Michele Isaacs, M.D, an obstetrician and gynecologist who also specializes in fibroid treatment options. “Treatments such as Acessa® , which we utilize at Hackensack University Medical Center, allow us to offer a full spectrum of minimally invasive solutions that preserve the uterus, significantly shorten recovery time, and tailor treatments that are most effective and least disruptive to each patient’s unique needs.”
