On Saturday 31st July 2021, we were delighted to host a webinar on fibroids and mental health. This webinar was part of our Fibroids Awareness Month event series which aimed to empower women living with fibroids with information on how to manage the impact of fibroids.
A very important issue for women living with fibroids is managing the mental and emotional impact of fibroids. Therefore, we invited Olivia Haltman, an accredited counsellor fromOH Counselling Services, to help attendees identify, understand and address the many ways that fibroids can affect a woman’s emotions and mental health.
This session also explored how women can heal and successfully navigate the challenges that living with fibroids may present.
If you missed this session, you can watch the recording below.
On Saturday 24th July 2021, we hosted a webinar on fibroids and exercise. This webinar was part of our Fibroids Awareness Month event series which aims to empower women living with fibroids with information on the lifestyle changes that may alleviate their symptoms and improve their overall health and wellbeing.
In this session, we explored the power of exercise in managing fibroids symptoms. We discussed whether exercise can be beneficial in managing fibroids symptoms and we looked at some simple, low-impact exercises that women can easily try at home through fun demonstrations of barre, yoga and other exercises.
Speakers included:
Abi Begho, Founder, Lake Health and Wellbeing;
Davina Baptiste, Certified Wellness Coach;
Jayshree Thokal, Qualified Yoga Instructor; and
Michelle Sutton, Health and Wellness Specialist.
If you missed this webinar, you can watch the recording below.
Our next webinar will be held on Saturday 31st July 2021 at 11am AST. This webinar will focus on fibroids and mental health.
In this webinar, Olivia Haltman, an accredited counsellor, will help women identify, understand and address the many ways that fibroids can affect a woman’s mental health.
We’ll empower women with the tools they need to improve their emotional wellbeing and successfully navigate the challenges that living with fibroids may present – these include managing and dealing with debilitating symptoms, fertility issues, tensions within relationships and the challenges that having fibroids may create in work, home and social settings.
July is Fibroids Awareness Month and we’re delighted to be hosting a series of webinars especially for women in St Kitts and Nevis. These events are aimed at informing and empowering women affected by fibroids by providing practical and useful guidance to enable women to take control of their health and wellbeing.
Our series includes three webinars focusing on diet, hormones, exercise and emotional wellbeing.
On 17th July, we were delighted to host a webinar on fibroids, diet and hormones. Led by Davina Baptiste, a Certified Wellness Coach, this webinar explored the role that hormones play in the development of fibroids and how by making simple changes to their diet, women with fibroids may be able to alleviate their symptoms and thus improve their health and wellbeing.
This was a very comprehensive and informative webinar and if you missed it, you can watch the recording below.
As we begin our work to support women in St Kitts and Nevis who have been affected by fibroids, it has been interesting to explore what is happening on the global scene. When we take a closer look, we see that there are organisations working tirelessly in their jurisdictions to highlight this neglected woman’s health issue.
Today, we’re going to look at Fibrome Info France’s campaign which was launched in March 2021. As part of this campaign, Fibrome Info France partnered with the Women’s Right Ministry in France to raise awareness of menstruation and fibroids. Their campaign aimed to use a variety of communication platforms to empower women with information about fibroids that would empower women to take control of their health. Their campaign focuses on the health and societal challenges associated with fibroids such as the huge burden fibroids place on women’s quality of life and women’s sexual and reproductive health and the action that is required to address these issues.
In April, their campaign rolled out in hospitals, clinics and medical practices and they utilised printed material including posters and leaflets which were distributed across 550 relay points. Furthermore, this month (June 2021) their campaign moved into another phase where they will host a series of webinars in partnership with medical experts and these webinars will continue until October 2021.
This is a great campaign that provides much-needed information around fibroids and we’re sure it will make a significant difference by highlighting this important women’s health issue, empowering women with fibroids and providing women with access to the support that they need to manage fibroids.
More Information
To find out more about Fibrome Info France you can visit their website here or follow them on social media:
Over the past month, as we have been conducting our regular monitoring of the traffic to our website, we have noticed a lot of visitors are coming to our website to find out whether soursop or guava are beneficial for fibroids. So, today, we will visit published research to see if we can answer this question.
How We’re Going to Approach This Question
The first thing to say about this topic is there isn’t a lot of evidence-based information out there. What we found were discussions by scientists about the possibilities, there wasn’t any concrete data that could definitively answer this question.
To explore whether guava and soursop may be beneficial in treating fibroids, we will focus on one scientific paper, which was the only one we could find that was related to this topic.
This paper was published by the Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine at the Polytechnic University of Marche in Italy, in 2014.
This paper is important in our exploration because some of the phytochemicals included in the researchers’ review are found in soursop and guava.
Some Background: What are Phytochemicals?
Before we summarise the relevant information provided in this paper, we thought it would be useful to define the term phytochemical. Harvard University describes phytochemicals as:
”…plant (phyto) chemicals: compounds in plants (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes) that contribute to their color, taste, and smell.”
Some commonly known phytochemicals are carotenoids, found in carrots, pumpkin, corn and tomatoes; flavonoids, found in citrus fruits, berries, apples and legumes and anthocyanins, which are found in berries, eggplant and red cabbage.
It is widely known that phytochemicals have a range of health benefits. These benefits include reducing our risk of heart disease, cancer and other chronic diseases and this is achieved because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects as well as a range of other effects.
What Does This Research Paper Tell Us?
The researchers who wrote this paper began their exploration by describing four possible factors that contribute to the development of fibroids. These are:
A chronically active inflammatory immune response
Fibrosis (a process that leads to the formation of scar tissue) which is a result of inflammation
Increased rate of cell growth in fibroid cells
The development of new blood vessels which feed fibroid cells
Researchers explained that if phytochemicals are able to address these four factors, they may be useful in preventing and treating fibroids.
Like many fruits, guava and soursop are rich in phytochemicals. Guava is known to contain the phytochemicals lycopene, quercetin, anthocyanin, and many others. Whilst soursop contains reticuline, coreximine, quercetin, gallic acid and others.
In their paper, researchers discuss a range of phytochemicals including ones that are relevant to guava and soursop – lycopene and quercetin. They explain that at the time of the publication of their paper, lycopene and quercetin have not been tested in fibroids, but based on what scientists know about these two chemicals they may be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of fibroids. This is because when we look back at the four possible ways that fibroids develop, these two phytochemicals can potentially target these processes. They have both been found to have the following effects:
An anti-inflammatory effect
Anti-fibrotic effect
Prevent the growth of different types of tumour cells (fibroids are benign tumours)
Prevent the development of blood vessels that feed tumour cells
Researchers couldn’t make any conclusions on these phytochemicals with regards to fibroids, but their discussion has identified these and other phytochemicals which could be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of fibroids. These include:
Allicin (found in garlic)
Ellagic acid (found in strawberries, raspberries, cranberries, blackberries, pecans, pomegranates, walnuts, wolfberry and grapes)
Indole-3-carbinol (found in cruciferous vegetables e.g. broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, bok choy, collard greens, kale etc.
Lycopene (found in tomato, watermelon, papaya, pink guava, pink grapefruit and apricots)
Quercetin (found in lemon, tomato, onion leaves, strawberries, soursop and tea)
They stated that based on the information they presented, there is a need to understand whether these phytochemicals are indeed beneficial for fibroids and this should be explored through future studies that carefully and accurately determine their mechanism of action and effectiveness in the treatment and prevention of fibroids.
What Does this Mean for Women With Fibroids?
This research study has raised the idea that the phytochemicals in soursop and guava may be beneficial in the treatment and prevention of fibroids. It doesn’t mean that eating soursop and guava will cure your fibroids, the reason for this, and this is discussed in the research paper, is that when you eat these fruits we don’t know if your body is absorbing enough of these phytochemicals to have a significant impact on the growth and development of fibroids.
What we can say is that if you have fibroids, if you haven’t already, we recommend that you adopt a healthy diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables, this can include soursop and guava, but should include cruciferous vegetables. Studies have shown that making dietary changes can be helpful in improving some of the symptoms of fibroids as can introducing more exercise into your routine.
It is also recommended that women with fibroids avoid certain foods such as alcohol, caffeine, red meat and foods that may contain high levels of hormones like oestrogen.
If you have fibroids and would like to explore dietary changes and exercise as a way of managing your symptoms, please speak to your doctor first. She/he will be able to advise you on the best approach based on your specific situation as the success of these approaches will depend on the size of your fibroids and other factors. You may also want to speak to a registered dietitian who along with your doctor will be able to provide some advice on the dietary changes that you can make.
Was this Helpful?
Were you one of the people looking for information on fibroids and guava and/or soursop? Was this article helpful? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below. We would love to hear from you.
References
Agu KC, Okolie PN. Proximate composition, phytochemical analysis, and in vitro antioxidant potentials of extracts of Annona muricata(Soursop). Food Sci Nutr. 2017;5(5):1029-1036. Published 2017 Jun 29. doi:10.1002/fsn3.498
Chiari-Andréo, Bruna & Trovatti, Eliane & Marto, Joana & Almeida-Cincotto, Maria & Melero, Ana & Corrêa, Marcos & Chiavacci, Leila & Ribeiro, Helena & Garrigues, Teresa & Isaac, Vera. (2017). Guava: Phytochemical composition of a potential source of antioxidants for cosmetic and/or dermatological applications. Brazilian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 53. 10.1590/s2175-97902017000216141.
Deepa PC., Kumaria IR., and Lavanya B. (2015) Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant and Anti Microbial Activity of White and Pink Psidium Guajava Linnaeus. International Journal of Current Pharmaceutical Research, 7(2), pp 29-31.
Islam MS, Akhtar MM, Ciavattini A, et al. Use of dietary phytochemicals to target inflammation, fibrosis, proliferation, and angiogenesis in uterine tissues: promising options for prevention and treatment of uterine fibroids? Mol Nutr Food Res. 2014;58(8):1667-1684. doi:10.1002/mnfr.201400134
Jacoby VL, Jacoby A, Learman LA, et al. Use of medical, surgical and complementary treatments among women with fibroids. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2014;182:220-225. doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2014.09.004
Leitzmann C. Characteristics and Health Benefits of Phytochemicals. Forsch Komplementmed. 2016;23(2):69-74. doi:10.1159/000444063
Shen Y, Wu Y, Lu Q, Ren M. Vegetarian diet and reduced uterine fibroids risk: A case-control study in Nanjing, China. J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2016;42(1):87-94. doi:10.1111/jog.12834
July is recognised as Fibroid Awareness Month in some countries and it’s a great opportunity to put the spotlight on a health condition that receives little attention.
This year, we are delighted to be a part of the newly formed Global Fibroids Alliance whose aim is to raise awareness of fibroids and advocate for the change that is required to improve the health and wellbeing of women with fibroids as well as the quality of care women receive.
The Global Fibroids Alliance is a diverse group of health and wellbeing practitioners, researchers and consultants who have come together to strengthen the global approach to improving the information, treatment, care and support for all those affected by fibroids. We hail from the Caribbean, US, UK and France and are calling for:
More awareness campaigns on fibroids
Fibroids education to be part of menstrual health education and delivered to all girls from the age of 10.
Every country to provide women with all the treatment options for fibroids.
Each woman suspected to have fibroids to be carefully assessed, and a treatment and wellness plan be developed in collaboration with the patient that suits the patient’s specific situation and is based on the concept of informed and shared decision-making.
Collaborative alliances to be formed between traditional and non-traditional/complementary therapists, gynaecologists and counsellors to ensure that women are receiving a holistic and comprehensive approach when deciding on their wellness plans.
More research to establish the cause of fibroids so that more effective treatments can be developed.
More attention on the psycho-social impact of fibroids so that we can determine the full impact of fibroids and the support that women throughout the world require.
As part of Fibroid Awareness Month, we are delighted to invite women with fibroids to our first event which is a webinar on Fibroids and COVID-19. This webinar aims to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic may be affecting women with fibroids and will discuss what women can do to improve their physical and mental health during this challenging period.
Today’s blog post comes from Mariana Ndrio. Mariana is a second-year medical student at the University of Medicine & Health Sciences (UMHS) in St. Kitts and is currently serving as the President of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) on campus.
Today, Mariana discusses the challenges that fibroids patients may be experiencing during this COVID-19 pandemic and shares some evidence-based self-care and stress management tips to help women with fibroids manage during this difficult period.
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to prompt stressful changes to our daily routine and lifestyle, health-related worries regarding ourselves and loved ones have undoubtedly intensified. While the growing uncertainties stemming from financial difficulties and social isolation impact the health and personal decision-making of everyone across the globe, women suffering from uterine fibroids are facing unprecedented challenges in their attempts to preserve their mental and physical wellbeing.
Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumours among women. While some cases of fibroids are accompanied by no side effects, other cases contain patterns of heavy menstrual bleeding, long and irregular periods, pelvic pressure and pain, constipation, frequent urination, and in rare occasions, infertility.
Treatment for fibroids can range from no treatment at all to surgery, depending on the severity of symptoms. Aside from apparent physical symptoms, the psychological impact of fibroids should not be disregarded. In a 2013 national survey of 968 women suffering from fibroids, 79% of the surveyed women expressed fear that their fibroids will grow or experience further health complications. According to a 2014 study assessing the emotional impact of fibroids half of the participating women reported feeling helpless and that they had no control over their fibroids, because of the difficulty managing and predicting the heavy menstrual flow.
Black women are 3 times more likely to become diagnosed with fibroids than white women, just as they are more likely to develop fibroids at a younger age; moreover, their fibroid size, frequency, and symptom severity are much greater.
As a medical student that remains generally impressed by the increasing amount of existing medical and scientific knowledge, researching gynaecological diseases such as fibroids have led me to a stark realization: that despite the high prevalence of uterine fibroids among women, not enough high-quality data is available to formulate evidence-based guidelines that address patients’ needs adequately. This points to a larger, unforgiving gap in medical knowledge pertaining to common diseases affecting women, and when combined with the gap in medical knowledge regarding COVID-19, a mixture of increased emotional stress and confusion is to follow. Such stress can hinder overall physical health and may exacerbate fibroid symptoms by influencing cycle length, vaginal bleeding patterns, and painful periods. If you are feeling uncertain or anxious, know that you are not alone; your worries and feelings are valid.
For that matter, we compiled some scientifically-backed tips that could be helpful in restoring a sense of control and ease in these difficult and unprecedented times.
First, don’t hesitate to reach out.
While staying home and self-isolating is the best way to stay protected from COVID-19 and prevent the spread of the virus, this should not halt or compromise access to necessary medical care for women suffering from fibroids.
If you needto see a healthcare provider for a gynaecological reason, reach out to your medical provider and try to see if they are able to set up a virtual appointment or address non-urgent concerns over the phone (such as prescription refills).
While it is true that a lot of non-urgent appointments and elective surgeries are cancelled, many medical professionals and medical facilities are encouraged to use and have already embraced telehealth services which allow long-distance patient and clinician care via remote and virtual appointments, intervention, education, and monitoring. Telehealth services vary based on your location and medical provider. But even if you are having difficulties accessing gynaecological telehealth services locally, you might be able to reach out to service providers in other countries such as the U.K, U.S, or Canada. For example, USA Fibroid Centers provide virtual appointments you can schedule online. Women to Women OB GYN Care, located in Florida, states in their website that they welcome appointments from women internationally and the Caribbean. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has also attempted to establish or expand telehealth services in a lot of Caribbean countries.
Keep up to date with your prescribed medications.
Keeping up to date with your prescribed medications can be confusing during a pandemic. You might feel like your regular access to your medical provider or pharmacy is compromised, you might worry that your current medications might be making you vulnerable to the COVID-19 or you might be feeling uncertain regarding the continuation of your current prescribed medications or supplements.
Nonetheless, it is important that you continue taking your prescribed medications and/or supplements unless otherwise advised by your physician. If you are receiving preoperative therapy (Zoladex, Lupron, etc.) but your surgery is cancelled, ask your physician regarding the course of your current prescribed therapy. If you have been prescribed a drug called Esmya (Ulipristal Acetate), you must consult with your physician regarding its discontinuation; as of 2020, Esmya’s license has been suspended due to the risk of serious liver injury. As mentioned previously, do not hesitate to discuss any concerns you might have regarding your current medications and supplements with your medical provider.
Plan ahead.
Studies show that women with fibroids might present heavier, prolonged bleeding and frequent, irregular periods. While everyone during a pandemic is worrying and trying to secure produce and disinfecting supplies, women suffering from fibroids have to also think about stocking up on female hygiene products. Especially, since frequent trips to the stores must be limited due to social distancing/quarantine rules.
Ensure that you have enough gynaecological hygiene products at home, to eliminate frequent trips to the store and avoid exposure to the virus. This by no means should be considered as the green light to go into a buying frenzy. Try to remain conscientious of the needs of others.
If buying hygiene products in bulk is not an option due to financial difficulty or store availability, reach out to local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or philanthropic entities, that might be willing to donate hygiene products such as the Days for Girls International Organization or even by reaching out directly to product manufacturers. Local grassroots organizations or associations in your region might also be able to donate hygiene items. Moreover, the governmental departments of public health or genders affairs might be willing to assist women in need of hygiene products.
This pandemic could also be a good time to consider reusable, more economical and environmentally friendly menstruation products such as washable pads, menstruation caps, or absorbent underwear. Check Days for Girls .org and learn how to make sanitary washable period pads during the COVD-19 pandemic, diligently following sanitary safety precautions.
Maintain healthy eating habits.
Research has shown that following a healthy balanced diet, filled with fruits and vegetables, could lower the risk of developing fibroids and may help to alleviate symptoms.
While access to your usual healthy foods might be compromised at the moment, try to make healthy dietary choices while in quarantine. More specifically, dieticians recommend an increase in the consumption of cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, and kale. This category of food contains a phytochemical called indole-3-carbinol which recent research has suggested may prevent the cellular proliferation of fibroids and consequently prevent exacerbation of fibroid symptoms.
For many years, there has been a significant amount of scientific evidence that vitamin D may inhibit fibroid growth. Get your serum vitamin D levels tested and supplement (with medical supervision) as needed to correct a deficiency. A few recently published studies assessing the role of vitamin D against COVID-19, suggested that there is a possible link between the two and that vitamin D can have a protective effect against COVID-19.
Stay hydrated by consuming adequate amounts of water during the day and eliminate alcohol and caffeine. Researchers are advising women to avoid alcohol and caffeine because these substances are metabolized by the liver adding more stress on it and making it work less effectively at metabolizing oestrogen in the body. Additionally, amidst the COVD-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) urged the public to reduce alcohol consumption because alcohol compromises the body’s immune system and increases the risk of adverse health outcomes, making people more vulnerable to COVID-19. In other words, by cutting out alcoholic beverages, you are protecting yourself from adverse outcomes from both the COVID-19 and fibroids.
In addition, researchers believe that endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) which mimic oestrogen activity, may fuel fibroid growth. Examples include processed foods which contain various oestrogen-like preservatives; bisphenol A in water bottles, canned foods and plastic containers; various pesticides, herbicides, insecticides; and additive hormones and steroids used in meats and dairy products.
Try to choose organic, locally grown and in-season foods that are hormone and pesticide-free.Attentively wash any produce and peel fruits and vegetables.Reduce the use of plastics whenever possible and avoid reusing plastic water bottles or microwave food in plastic containers.
Stay active.
Research shows that a higher BMI – body mass index – is linked to the development of fibroids. By exercising you can reduce your BMI and prevent the fibroids’ growth. It may also help alleviate symptoms caused by fibroids. At the same time, exercise improves mental health by reducing anxiety, depression, and negative mood and by improving self-esteem.
Continue performing simple or recreational household chores and find an indoor workout routine such as yoga or aerobic exercises that you can perform at home while keeping up with the rules of quarantine. Choose what works best for you, based on your physical fitness and medical advice.
Be gentle to yourself—your body & your mind
On days that you are feeling pain and other fibroid symptoms, rest up and give your body time to heal. Try to soothe cramps by applying heat and wear comfortable clothes.
It’s okay to spend a whole day in bed recovering. Be gentle with yourself and do not undermine what your body is trying to tell you.
We live in a society where time and productivity are precious and synonyms for money and self-worth. Yet, nothing is more precious than your physical and emotional well-being. Do not feel guilty for taking some time to rest and recover.
Although self-care looks different for everyone and should be based on your personal needs and situation, there are a few suggestions that could work for you and help you boost your mental well-being:
Try to meditate and practice mindfulness. You can find a lot of free guided meditations online or on YouTube.
Monitor your thoughts and feelings in a journal.
Practice good sleep hygiene. Maintain a sufficient sleep schedule, stay away from electronic devices while in bed, and start a regular bedtime routine—such as drinking a soothing tea, taking a warm bath or shower, reading, etc.
Limit the amount of media you ingest daily.
If you live alone reach out to family and friends via phone or video. If you live with family, roommates, or a partner use this time to connect and nurture your relationships.
And remember, during these confusing and unprecedented times and while you are feeling that this pandemic is affecting you, in particular, a bit harder than the rest, there is always a community of women who are feeling exactly like you—you are not alone.
The BMJ, British Medical Journal Publishing Group: “Uterine Fibroid Drug Is Recalled after Case of Liver Failure Requiring Transplant Prompts EU Review.” www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m1112.
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology: “Vegetarian diet and reduced uterine fibroids risk: A case-control study in Nanjing, China.” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26458740
We are absolutely delighted to inform you that our fibroids research study has now begun after receiving ethics approval from the Ministry of Health last month. Our research project will explore the experiences of women residing in St Kitts and Nevis, who have been affected by fibroids.
The reason for trying to understand these experiences is because it has become clear that fibroids are a common health issue affecting women in St Kitts and Nevis. It is therefore important to explore if fibroids are affecting the quality of life of women in the Federation and understand what challenges women may be facing so we can provide effective and appropriate support, advocate on behalf of women, and ensure that women receive the best medical care possible.
We’re Looking For Volunteers
If you live in St Kitts and Nevis, are between the ages of 18 and 55 and have been diagnosed with fibroids within the last 5 years (any time between January 2015 and January 2020), you can take part in this research.
As a participant, you will be asked to take part in a 90-minute interview and in exchange for your time, you will receive $50EC.
More Information
If you’re interested in taking part in this study or have any questions, please contact Abi Begho by emailing research@lakehealthandwellbeing.com or calling 1 869 765 8702.
Ethics Approval Details
This research study was granted ethics approval by St Kitts Ministry of Health’s Interim Ethics Review Committee on 12th December 2019 (our ethics approval number is IERC-2019-12-035)
We are absolutely delighted to announce that we recently received a grant from Soca Girls Rock! (SGR!) to support our new fibroids research project.
At the time of writing, we were just about to submit our application to the Ministry of Health’s Interim Ethics Review Committee for ethics approval and once that is granted our project will begin.
Our new project is a qualitative research study that will explore the experiences of women living in St Kitts and Nevis who have been affected by fibroids. This work aims to provide an in-depth exploration of women’s experiences and help us identify any psychosocial, personal, institutional and physical challenges that women with fibroids may experience that may impact their health and wellbeing. By exploring these issues, we can develop an understanding of how fibroids may affect a woman’s quality of life and this will enable us to begin to focus on strategies to support women who have been affected by fibroids.
To our knowledge, there has been no research conducted in St Kitts and Nevis to understand the experiences of women living with fibroids. Therefore, this study will make a significant contribution to filling an information gap in women’s health.
We would like to say a big thank you to Soca Girls Rock! for supporting this project and for continuing to support women-led, Caribbean-based initiatives.
When asked about the importance of providing funds to women-led organisations to support research projects like this, SGR! stated:
“The challenges of womanhood can and should be addressed by women.”
We are also grateful to SGR! for providing us with access to the technical expertise to conduct this research project by facilitating a collaboration with Dr Fanta Waterman (MPH, PhD), the Managing Director of Serrette Brown Research and Consulting. We are very much looking forward to working with Dr Waterman and appreciate all the useful insight and advice that she has already provided.
About Soca Girls Rock!
Soca Girls Rock! aims to address the unique set of social and economic challenges that the Caribbean faces. These challenges include access to quality education and health care, high unemployment rates for youth and women, high poverty and crime rates, and income inequality. SGR! tackles these issues through its unique and innovative approach to leadership, activism, and civic engagement. They harness the collective time, talent, and treasure of self-identified Caribbean women, living in and outside of the Region, to provide technical and financial assistance to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) committed to social change.
About Serrette Brown Research and Consulting
Serrette Brown Research and Consulting (SBRC) is a boutique research consulting practice specializing in epidemiology, population health research, program evaluation, evidence gap analyses, digital health and publications development strategy.
They partner with non-profits, non-government organizations (NGO), biopharmaceutical companies, health services research organizations and policy implementation agencies based in the United States, Europe and the Caribbean. SBRC staff have been the recipient of research awards and featured on national television.
More Information
If you have any questions about this project or would like any further information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us by email research@lakehealthandwellbeing.com
We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who supported our recent campaign where organisations from the Caribbean, UK, US and France joined forces to put the spotlight on fibroids.
We really appreciate all your emails, comments, retweets and shares which all helped us reach more and more women.
This is wonderful. We would love to get involved! Please shoot us an email at info@fibroidfighters.com.
Great #Awareness 👏 Presumed #fibroids could also be uterine #sarcoma#leiomyosarcoma as no preop test or imaging can differentiate. Good to be aware of differentiatial diagnosis especially if considering surgery as #morcellation can cause tissue dissemination & worsen prognosis
Our campaign highlighted the need for a global change where all stakeholders are better informed about fibroids so they are empowered to take action to improve the health and wellbeing of the many women affected by this condition.
Specifically, we were calling for a greater level of awareness of:
The symptoms of fibroids to facilitate an early and accurate diagnosis;
All the treatment options available so that women can make an informed decision about the treatment that best suits their situation; and
What actions women with fibroids can take to improve their physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing
If you missed our campaign, you can read about this joint effort here.
We’ll continue to work with our global partners to raise awareness and provide support to women who have been affected by fibroids. In the meantime, you can find out more about our fibroids information and support programme here.
Check out some tweets from some of our global partners and you can visit social media to read through all our posts during the campaign. And, if you have any questions or comments you can leave them in the comments box below or email us.
