🌸 Fibroids Awareness Month: Why UK Workplaces Must Join the Conversation

🌸 Fibroids Awareness Month: Why UK Workplaces Must Join the Conversation

July marks Fibroids Awareness Month, a crucial time to spotlight a condition that affects 2 in 3 women during their lifetime. Despite being so common, fibroids—non-cancerous growths in or around the uterus—remain under-discussed, under-diagnosed, and often misunderstood. This silence can have a profound impact, especially in the workplace.

Understanding Fibroids

Fibroids can cause a range of symptoms, including:

• Heavy or painful periods
• Chronic fatigue
• Pelvic and lower back pain
• Frequent urination or constipation

These symptoms can significantly disrupt daily life and professional performance. Women of African and Caribbean heritage are disproportionately affected, often experiencing more severe symptoms and earlier onset.

The Workplace Impact

For many, managing fibroids means navigating pain, fatigue, and stigma—often in silence. A lack of awareness and support in the workplace can lead to absenteeism, reduced productivity, and even career setbacks.

That’s why it’s time for employers to step up.

How Employers Can Support

Here are three meaningful ways organisations can make a difference:

1. Recognise the Physical and Emotional Toll

Acknowledge that fibroids are more than “just a period.” They can be debilitating. Creating a culture of empathy and understanding is the first step toward meaningful support.

2. Encourage Open Dialogue

Break the stigma around menstrual and reproductive health. Encourage conversations, provide educational resources, and ensure employees feel safe discussing their health without fear of judgment or penalty.

3. Support Flexibility and Access to Care

Offer flexible working arrangements, time off for medical appointments, and access to occupational health services. These adjustments can be life-changing for someone managing chronic symptoms.

Resources and Support

The UK charity Wellbeing of Women is leading the charge in raising awareness and supporting those affected by fibroids. Their “Just a Period” campaign challenges the normalization of menstrual pain and advocates for better education, diagnosis, and treatment.

They also offer:

• A Period Symptom Checker to help individuals understand when to seek medical advice
• An Employer Membership Programme to help organisations build inclusive, supportive policies for women’s health

Final Thoughts

Fibroids Awareness Month is more than a campaign—it’s a call to action. By fostering open dialogue, offering flexibility, and recognising the real impact of fibroids, we can create workplaces where all women feel seen, supported, and empowered.

Let’s stop periods from holding anyone back.

#FibroidsAwarenessMonth #WomensHealth#MenstrualHealthMatters #WorkplaceWellbeing #InclusionAtWork #HealthEquity#WellbeingOfWomen #DiversityAndInclusion #ChronicHealthAwareness#FlexibleWorking #EndTheStigma

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