“I Thought It Was Normal”: When Pain Is Dismissed
For years, tennis legend Venus Williams pushed through unbearable period symptoms—nausea, intense cramps, and heavy bleeding—thinking it was all just part of being a woman. “As bad as things were for me, crazy amounts of bleeding like you couldn’t imagine… my doctors told me it was normal,” she shared in a recent interview.
What she didn’t know was that she was living with fibroid symptoms—and that those symptoms were quietly taking a toll on her health and career.
Despite being one of the world’s most elite athletes, Williams struggled behind the scenes with pain so severe it left her vomiting, anemic, and drained. And for years, doctors either downplayed her symptoms or offered little explanation.
“I didn’t know what was wrong with me,” she said. “No one should have to go through this.”
What Are Fibroids and Adenomyosis?
Fibroids are noncancerous growths in or around the uterus. They’re incredibly common—affecting up to 80% of Black women and 70% of white women before age 50—but their symptoms are often misunderstood or dismissed.
Common fibroid symptoms include:
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Severe cramps
- Fatigue or anemia
- Bloating or GI discomfort
- Pelvic pain
Adenomyosis is another condition that can cause similar problems. It occurs when tissue like the lining of the uterus grows into the uterine wall, causing pain, swelling, and irregular periods.
Williams had both.
Living with Pain, Playing Through It
Even as her symptoms worsened, Williams continued to compete at the highest level. “I never had enough energy most times to play a real match the way I wanted to,” she admitted. Her cramps were so bad she sometimes collapsed or vomited. She wore multiple layers of clothing to manage bleeding and used extra bedding at night.
At one tournament, she lay on the floor of the locker room unable to eat, whispering to herself, “It’s gonna pass.”
Doctors told her it was part of aging. Others offered jokes instead of answers. One even called her symptoms “natural birth control”—a comment that later left her shaken.
But the pain was real. And it was getting worse.
The Turning Point: Getting the Right Diagnosis
Everything changed when Williams saw a social media post that said, “You don’t have to live like this.” That sparked a weekend-long deep dive into research, which led her to NYU Langone’s Center for Fibroid Care.
There, Dr. Taraneh Shirazian finally connected the dots. Williams’ fibroids weren’t just present—they were large and growing. Shirazian recommended a myomectomy, a surgery that removes fibroids but preserves the uterus.
At first, Williams was hesitant. “I was scared,” she admitted. “But the idea that someone finally understood what I was going through gave me hope.”
She had the surgery. Her uterus was spared. And her quality of life began to improve.
How to Advocate for Your Health
Williams is now using her platform to raise awareness—and to encourage other women not to ignore serious period symptoms.
“Hopefully someone will see this and say, ‘I can get help. I don’t have to live this way.’”
If you’re experiencing severe menstrual pain or bleeding that’s affecting your daily life, don’t settle for “it’s normal.”
5 Signs Your Period Pain Might Be More Than “Normal”
- Heavy bleeding that soaks through clothes or bedding
- Cramping so intense it causes vomiting
- Needing iron supplements or transfusions for anemia
- Pain that interferes with work, school, or relationships
- A sense that your symptoms are getting worse over time
The Takeaway
You shouldn’t need to be a world-class athlete to be heard. Venus Williams’ story is a reminder that fibroid symptoms are common, but not something you have to suffer through. The right care—and the right provider—can change everything.
