Today, correspondent Jill Martin revealed about her two-year battle with fibroids, saying she has 18 growths in her uterus and looks pregnant.
The 45-year-old lifestyle guru shared his story for the first time in Wednesday’s episode morning show. She also wrote an essay about her experience, including her recent treatment with uterine fibroid embolization (UFE).
Martin discovered that he had fibroids – non-cancerous growths in the uterus – in 2019 during a routine gynecological examination. Although many women have no symptoms, they can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, pain, pressure on the bladder or intestines, and even infertility.
“I have been living in pain for two years … I have suffered all the time,” she wrote. “Viewers asked on social media if I was overweight or pregnant. I wasn’t pregnant, but I looked like that.
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Jill Martin, 45, talks about her two-year battle with uterine fibroids for the first time on Wednesday’s Today
The Today lifestyle correspondent said she was “physically distorted” and looked pregnant because of her fibroids, which are non-cancerous growths in the uterus.
Martin’s gynecologist told her last summer that “her uterus is the size of someone who is four months pregnant.”
Martin said her gynecologist, Dr. Karen Broadman, told her during an examination last August that her “uterus is the size of someone who is four months pregnant.”
Although her symptoms were initially manageable, she struggled with growing pain and had to call a patient at work for the first time in her life three weeks ago when she realized something was “wrong.”
“I couldn’t go anywhere without my heating pad. He was suffering from sexual intercourse. I was physically distorted and swollen … and I was in a lot of pain most of the time, “she wrote of her symptoms. “Oh, and another great event: when someone says something funny, I pee.”
Approximately 20% to 50% of women of reproductive age have fibroids, according to Medicine by John Hopkins.
Martin’s mother (pictured) also has fibroids, but no symptoms. Fibroids can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, pain, pressure on the bladder or intestines, and even infertility
At first, Martin’s symptoms were treatable, but she struggled with the growing pain, saying she was “in pain during intercourse” and would pee when she laughed.
The TV personality said that people will ask her if she is pregnant or has gained weight due to the changes in her body.
The shoots vary in size and can be as small as a rice grain or as large as a melon.
Martin, whose mother also has fibroids but no symptoms, initially thought the only way to treat them was to have a hysterectomy, a surgical removal of the uterus.
She was researching alternative treatments with the help of her fiancé Eric Brooks when she came across UFE, a minimally invasive procedure in which blood flow is cut off to fibroids, causing them to shrink.
Martin was referred to Dr. Mark Schiffman, a radiologist, and underwent the procedure last month.
Martin began researching fibroid treatment with his fiancé Eric Brooks (pictured) after the pain became too much to bear and she called sick to work for the first time in her life.
During their study, they encountered uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), a minimally invasive procedure in which blood flow is interrupted toward fibroids, causing them to contract.
Martin underwent the procedure last month, thinking he had two fibroids: one the size of a large grapefruit and the other a little smaller than that.
The doctor found 18 fibroids in her uterus and while she is already feeling better, she will not know if the treatment worked until six months later.
“I thought I had two fibroids: one the size of a large grapefruit and the other a little smaller. But the doctor found 18, “she wrote. “We won’t know if the treatment has worked in six months, but I hope so.”
Dr. Brian Holly, an interventional radiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Interventional Radiology, who specializes in UFE, stated that “nine out of 10 patients undergoing uterine fibroid embolization will receive significant improvement or their symptoms will disappear completely with minimal recovery time.”
“I can already see that my stomach is getting flatter. It still hurts, but it’s a good pain because I know I’m in treatment, “Martin explained. “Dr. Schiffman said my body is slowly reabsorbing the tissue. There is inflammation. My body just needs time.
Martin’s eyes filled with tears during the segment about her fibroid fight that aired Wednesday night.
It still hurts, but it’s a good pain because I know I’m being treated, “she explained
Martin’s eyes filled with tears during the segment about her battle with fibroids, broadcast on Wednesday morning
Martin said he shared his story because he wanted to help other women who “suffer in silence” and believe that a hysterectomy is the only way to treat fibroids.
“It’s fixable, and I have a feeling that if something is fixable, I’m grateful I was able to share it because I can help so many women,” she said, sharing her story for the first time.
“Historically, you think hysterectomy is the only option, so you’re dealing with it. You deal with the pain and see what my body was like, ”she continued. “I didn’t look like me or feel like me, and the pain was so unbearable.
“And the thought of not being able to have children – even though it’s not in my plan right now – was not an option for me. So, to be exposed to these other possibilities that so many women don’t know about is why I’m sharing this.
“So many people are suffering in silence,” she added.
WHAT ARE Uterine fibroids?
Fibroids are a common condition in which tumors develop in the uterus. They vary in size and can be as small as a rice grain or as large as a melon.
Fibroids are not cancerous in 99% of cases and do not increase the risk of uterine cancer.
It is not known what causes growths, but studies show that genetics and prolonged exposure to estrogen may increase the risk of developing fibroids.
Approximately 20% to 50% of women of childbearing age have fibroids, and up to 77% of women will develop fibroids sometime during their childbearing years.
Symptoms may include severe and prolonged periods, bleeding between periods, abdominal pressure and pelvic pain.
Fibroids are most often found during a routine pelvic examination or are accidentally noted on imaging. They often go undiagnosed because only about a third of the fibroids are large enough to be detected during a physical examination.
Treatment may include medication or surgery if needed.
Source: Medicine by John Hopkins