What are uterine fibroids? Doctors explain condition that led ABC News anchor Linsey Davis to undergo surgery

It’s a condition that blights an estimated 26 million women between the ages of 15 and 50 in the US, still, uterine fibroids remain an under-discussed health concern.   

ABC News anchor Linsey Davis has just spoken publicly for the first time about her years-long experience with the condition, which causes noncancerous growths to form in the uterus.

The 47-year-old was first diagnosed with fibroids 13 years ago after years of suffering. She didn’t tell family and friends and felt it was only a matter she could discuss with her gynecologist. 

Uterine fibroids cause an array of symptoms, including heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, and increased urinary frequency.

Depending on their size and location in the uterus, fibroids can affect fertility by interfering with sperm implantation and increasing the risk of miscarriage.

Dr Johnny Parvani, an emergency medicine physician, told DailyMail.com that fibroids can also be life threatening if they are very large, as they can ’cause obstructions and functional impairment of other organs’.

To Davis’ relief, she was told her case of fibroids was ‘mild’.

While she was worried that it might make it more difficult to have children, a year after marrying her husband, Paul Roberts, in March 2013, they successfully welcomed their son, Ayden. 

During her pregnancy, doctors noted that her fibroid was growing alongside the fetus but said the baby would ultimately ‘win out,’ which proved to be the case.

Davis told People: ‘During my pregnancy, they said that the fibroid was growing along with the fetus but it should be okay because at a certain point, the baby wins out. And that’s what happened.

‘I had my son and didn’t have any concerns.’

In some cases, however, uterine fibroids can lead to several complications during pregnancy, Dr Parvani said. 

These include increased risks of miscarriage, preterm labor, cesarean delivery, and postpartum hemorrhage. 

Fibroids can also affect fetal position, which can restrict the baby’s movement and potentially increase the risk of complications during labor and delivery.

Several options can help manage or treat uterine fibroids, ranging from lifestyle adjustments to medical and surgical interventions.

These include medications to manage symptoms, minimally invasive procedures to shrink or remove the tumors, and in some cases, surgical removal of the uterus (a hysterectomy). 

After having her son, Davis found that her fibroid pain disappeared, which can happen if the growths shrink. 

However, six years later her symptoms returned with extreme menstrual cycles, lasting up to two weeks, and severe bloating.

In Davis’ case, her doctor recommended a myomectomy, surgery to remove fibroids while preserving the uterus. 

Six fibroids were removed in 2020, and her symptoms subsided.

Eighteen months later, though, Davis noticed a protrusion on the left side of her lower abdomen. 

Although doctors initially suspected it was a hernia, a pelvic ultrasound confirmed the fibroids had returned. This time, 13 were detected.

Her doctors presented three treatment options: another myomectomy, uterine fibroid embolization, or a hysterectomy. 

The first two came with the possibility of recurrence, while a hysterectomy would be a permanent solution.

It also meant she could have no more children and could potentially go into early menopause. 

Davis decided on a hysterectomy after experiencing bloating caused by the fibroids during the 2025 Oscars pre-show, which led to speculation online that she was pregnant. 

She said she had already been weighing her options, but the incident reinforced her decision.

‘At that point, I was just in a state of mind like, I just wanna get rid of them,’ she said. 

Her surgery is now scheduled for August 15. 

Dr Parvani told this website a hysterectomy is the best long-term solution to fibroids but it does come with risk. 

He explained: ‘As a general rule of thumb the more extensive the surgery, the higher the likelihood of complications. 

‘One common condition encountered post surgery is adhesions, where by inflammatory changes from the surgical procedure cause tissue to become attached as a result of wound healing. 

‘Inflammation is a result of tissue damage or irritation as such, less invasive procedures are generally better tolerated and have less complications.’ 

A hysterectomy may also send a woman into menopause if her ovaries are removed as well.

Along with physical symptoms Dr Rachel Toles, a licensed clinical psychologist based in California, told DailyMail.com the condition can have a huge impact on mental health.   

She reveals: ‘Even though fibroids are a physical condition, the emotional and psychological effects they can have are often just as significant – and sometimes more lasting – than the physical symptoms themselves.

‘For many women, the experience of living with fibroids begins to shape daily life in subtle but constant ways. 

‘Unpredictable bleeding can create ongoing anxiety about leaving the house, being in public, or participating in social activities. This fear of visible ‘accidents’ isn’t simply inconvenient – it can lead to avoidance of events, withdrawal from intimacy, and a growing sense of isolation. 

‘Chronic pain and fatigue add another layer, eroding patience, mood, and overall energy. Over time, this can contribute to feelings of sadness, irritability, or hopelessness.’

Davis said she does not plan to have more children and wants to eliminate the symptoms caused by fibroids.

Fibroids are common, affecting more than 80 percent of Black women and about 70 percent of women overall by age 50. 

Davis said she now wants to raise awareness about the condition, sharing her experience so others don’t feel they have to endure symptoms in silence.

‘So I think that it just feels good to be able to talk with other people who say things like, oh, I had that too, and this is how I dealt with it, and this is what I recommend,’ she said. 

‘I just feel like that is a healthier approach rather than just trying to, on your own, solve for x.’

In terms of preventing fibroids, Dr Parvani says the best thing women can do is to ensure routine gynecological examinations.

He adds: ‘Uterine fibroids don’t grow overnight, so the sooner the problem is detected the better the prognosis. 

‘Furthermore, other more serious conditions can be misidentified as fibroids and routine examination is the best way to distinguish between the two. 

‘Medications can help regulate hormones to limit symptoms. I personally am also a strong proponent of a healthy diet as processed foods or engineered foods may affect hormonal levels that can impact uterine and overall health.’