Tejal Somvanshi
Tennis legend Venus Williams endured nearly three decades of severe pain, vomiting, and extreme bleeding due to uterine fibroids while doctors repeatedly dismissed her symptoms as “normal.” The 45-year-old seven-time Grand Slam champion recently revealed this hidden health struggle that severely impacted both her career and daily life.
“I’m sharing now because I was outraged that I didn’t know this was possible. I didn’t know what was wrong with me,” Williams said in a July 2025 interview. “No one should have to go through this.”
Despite being an elite athlete with access to top medical care, Williams faced the same dismissal many women experience when reporting gynecological pain. At age 37, a doctor told her severe symptoms were simply “part of aging.” Another physician callously joked her condition was “natural birth control.”
“As bad as things were for me, crazy amounts of bleeding like you couldn’t imagine…my doctors told me it was normal,” Williams explained. “I never realized anything was wrong.”
The turning point came during Wimbledon 2016, when Williams collapsed in pain before the doubles final. “I was just lying on the floor in the locker room, like, ‘It’s gonna pass. It’s gonna pass,'” she recalled. “Thank God Serena got the doctor…and I was able to get up and eat and start playing.”
Williams’ experience highlights a troubling healthcare disparity. Fibroids – non-cancerous uterine growths – affect approximately 70% of white women and 80% of Black women by age 50. Black women also face more severe symptoms, larger fibroids, and earlier onset of the condition.
Beyond just fibroids, Williams was also diagnosed with adenomyosis, where uterine lining tissue grows into the muscular wall of the uterus. Her pre-existing Sjögren’s syndrome, an autoimmune condition, further complicated diagnosis as symptoms overlapped.
Similar Posts
The physical toll was immense. Williams struggled with anemia so severe she needed iron transfusions. She wore extra layers to hide excessive bleeding and often vomited from pain. The emotional impact was equally devastating, especially when doctors suggested hysterectomy without explaining alternatives.
“I’m a career girl. I was trying to play tennis,” Williams said. “I wasn’t trying to have too many kids, but you never want those choices taken away — the feeling of that is really a nightmare.”
Her breakthrough came through social media. Williams spotted an ad stating, “you don’t have to live like this” — the first indication her suffering wasn’t inevitable. This led her to NYU Langone Health’s Center for Fibroid Care, where Dr. Taraneh Shirazian finally provided comprehensive care.
“Women do not get the care that they need for fibroid disease,” Dr. Shirazian stated. “World-class athlete, superstar. Has access to every doctor, every facility, every option…She went to so many other people before she got care.”
In July 2024, Williams underwent a uterine-sparing myomectomy, which removed the fibroids while preserving her uterus. The procedure transformed her health and energy levels.
Williams now uses her platform to raise awareness, especially during Fibroid Awareness Month each July. Her message is clear: women shouldn’t accept chronic pain as normal, and seeking second opinions is crucial when symptoms are dismissed.
“Hopefully someone will see this interview and say, ‘I can get help. I don’t have to live this way,'” Williams said. “I’m very passionate about this because I know that other people can live better than what I lived.”
