You can catch fitness trainer and health enthusiast, Anowa Adjah, on social media being an inspiration for womene everywhere. Known as the curvy fitness pioneer and powerhouse, Adjah shows how the scale is not the “end all, be all” test of health. She is the picture of health, but recently, she went through something that is affecting a lot of Black women: uterine fibroids.
“As you can see, the area around my belly button is still extremely swollen,” confessed Adjah on her Instagram. “For several years I suffered in silence trying to remain poised and a continued source of strength for other people. However, things turned for the worse. Early last year I was sent to the Emergency Room for extreme Anemia which almost required a Blood Transfusion and hospitalization. I was having periods several times a month and my stomach was the size of a 5-month pregnancy. I became extremely weak and distraught. On February 25th, 2020 I took my life back. My recovery was 3 times worse than a c-section and, for the first time ever, I leaned on my village for support. I was in extreme pain but looked forward to feeling normal again.”
Roughly seventy percent of American women will develop uterine fibroids by age 50. But for African-American women that becomes a staggering 90% and that’s at a younger. Even with an already high rate of occurrence, African-American women are two to three times more likely to have recurring fibroids or suffer from complications from them.
In extreme cases, a hysterectomy can be recommended to get rid of fibroids — but that should be the treatment of last resort. Though the number is decreasing, more than 400,000 hysterectomies are done each year in the United States, and fully a third of the hysterectomies done in women between 18 and 44 — prime reproductive years — are done to treat fibroids. As a result, black women are four times as likely as white women to receive a hysterectomy.
But thankfully, there are alternative treatments for severe fibroids that are less invasive and can preserve fertility, such as:
– Uterine artery embolization
Small particles (embolic agents) are injected into the arteries supplying the uterus, cutting off blood flow to fibroids, causing them to shrink and die.
– Radiofrequency ablation
Radiofrequency energy destroys uterine fibroids and shrinks the blood vessels that feed them. This can be done during a laparoscopic or transcervical procedure. A similar procedure called cryomyolysis freezes the fibroids.
– Laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy
In a myomectomy, your surgeon removes the fibroids, leaving the uterus in place
– Endometrial ablation
This treatment uses heat, microwave energy, hot water or electric current to destroy the lining of your uterus, either ending menstruation or reducing your menstrual flow.
Plus, there are a number of natural remedies some use to shrink fibroids as well.
“I am a woman who is extremely guarded,” continues Anowa. “I wear a shield as a form of protection over my huge heart. I don’t like to ask for help and always want to appear as if I have it all together. This year I’m slowly letting the walls down because…
I long for more honest and sincere relationships in my life. I think strong women are often misunderstood as being cold, detached, and heartless but it’s the extreme opposite. We want the ability to feel safe and secure. We want to be able to hang up our superwoman capes and relax. I want to thank my close friends and family for the calls, messages, flowers, gifts, etc. I want to thank the supporters that constantly sent DMs and messages checking in on my recovery…This has been one of the hardest moments of my life and it feels good to no longer feel alone…”
“I bet you’d never guess 2.5 months ago I had several Baseball-sized Uterine Fibroid Tumors surgically removed. I bet you’d never guess that I lost 20-pounds in 4.5 weeks! Let me add that I’m also currently homeschooling very active 7-year old twin boys. On top of that I’m running a business which assists thousands of women on their Fitness Journey! (@anowaadjahfitness ) Listen! I GET IT! I currently have close friends on the front lines of the Covid-19 crisis in New York and California! Times are challenging right now! It’s so easy to give up but you can’t! You have people depending on you! You truly want this! If there is anything we learned during this time is that nothing is guaranteed! I had the next 3 months planned out and it’s completely gone to waste! Take this moment to be grateful and invest in yourself!”
Growing up, Anowa received much criticism from her peers for her muscular frame and profound African features. At the tender age of 12 Anowa stood a staggering 5’7 inches and 140 pounds. Her distinct appearance segregated her from most of her peers. Consequently, Anowa expressed her dissent through confrontation and physical violence. As an alternative to her obstructive behavior, Anowa’s parents got her involved in Athletics.
“My mother was a major influence on me to do fitness,” confesses Anowa. “She was a former Track & Field athlete in Nigeria and has always been committed to working out and taking care of herself.”
Now, she’s literally helping thousands of women everywhere achieve their body, weight and health goals.
By subscribing, you consent to receive emails from BlackDoctor.com. You may unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy & Terms of Service.
