Women Deserve Options: Inside the Fibroid Fighters Foundation Summit in New York City

The Fibroid Fighters Foundation Summit: Your Health in Full Bloom brought women, medical professionals, advocates, entertainers and community leaders together in New York City for an evening that blended education, celebration and honest conversation.

Held during Fibroid Awareness Month, the summit created a space where women could learn about fibroid symptoms and treatment options while also feeling celebrated, supported and seen. The night included panel discussions, personal testimonies, special recognitions, live music, dancing and affirmations that encouraged guests to speak positively over their lives and health.

At the center of the evening was a message repeated by nearly every speaker: women deserve complete information before making decisions about their bodies.

Dr. Yan Katsnelson, founder of USA Fibroid Centers, encouraged women not to accept prolonged pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, frequent urination, constipation or other possible symptoms as something they simply have to endure.

“You don’t have to suffer from fibroids,” Dr. Yan Katsnelson said.

Dr. Yan Katsnelson urged women experiencing symptoms to request an ultrasound and learn about all available treatment options, including uterine fibroid embolization, also known as UFE. His message established the purpose of the summit. Awareness matters, but awareness alone is not enough. Women also need access to information that allows them to make informed decisions about their care.

For several guests, that message was deeply personal.

Shay Johnson shared that she underwent a myomectomy before learning that UFE may have been another option for her. Her experience now motivates her to encourage other women to ask more questions before choosing a treatment.

“Check into all your options before you make your decision,” Shay Johnson said.

Shay Johnson also urged women to pay attention when their bodies signal that something is wrong. She compared symptoms to the warning light on a car and explained that ignoring the signs can allow a problem to become more serious.

Her message was direct: stop suffering in silence, recognize the signs and take action.

Shereé Whitfield echoed that call for self-advocacy. Shereé Whitfield said conversations about fibroids are still not happening often enough within the communities most affected by the condition.

After navigating fibroids in her own family and undergoing a UFE procedure, Shereé Whitfield said she became even more aware of how important it is for women to research procedures and ask physicians direct questions about short-term and long-term outcomes.

For Shereé Whitfield, prioritizing her health means taking back control of her body, making informed decisions and refusing to remain passive in conversations about her care.

Cynthia Bailey brought another deeply personal perspective to the summit. Cynthia Bailey described fibroids as part of her testimony and said she remains committed to speaking openly so other women know they are not alone.

Cynthia Bailey also challenged the expectation that women, particularly Black women, should continue to suffer quietly while caring for everyone else.

“We deserve to feel good. We deserve to be happy. We deserve to have good health and we deserve to put ourselves first,” Cynthia Bailey said.

That message of putting oneself first continued throughout the evening.

Celebrity makeup artist and USA Fibroid Centers ambassador Kym Lee shared how she once became so accustomed to heavy bleeding, exhaustion and not feeling well that those symptoms became part of her normal routine. Her perspective changed after her husband found her unconscious in their garage and rushed her to the hospital.

The experience became a physical and emotional wake-up call. Kym Lee now encourages women not to wait until their symptoms become unbearable before seeking answers. She also stressed that women should understand every available treatment option before deciding which path is best for them.

K Goddess offered a younger and more conversational take on the same idea.

“Taking care of my health means wealth,” K Goddess said.

K Goddess spoke candidly about balancing motherhood with the need to make time for herself. Sleep, a bath, returning to the gym or finding a few quiet minutes can all become meaningful acts of self-care when life constantly requires women to pour into others.

The conversation also extended beyond the women in the room.

Grandmaster Melle Mel and Two Dollar Dave spoke about the responsibility men have to support women living with fibroids. Grandmaster Melle Mel emphasized that Black women should not be expected to stand behind their families and communities without receiving that same support in return.

Two Dollar Dave shared that he personally knows women affected by fibroids and understands that health challenges can leave people feeling frightened or helpless. Both men encouraged women to surround themselves with people who listen, remain present and offer genuine support.

The summit’s serious message was matched by an atmosphere of joy.

Women were recognized and celebrated for their strength, advocacy and contributions throughout the evening. Keith Brown, known as Mr. I’m Possible, kept the room energized with affirmations that encouraged guests to speak confidence, hope and possibility out loud.

The energy later shifted into a celebration filled with music, dancing and familiar songs.

Brenda K. Starr brought her signature presence to the stage, while Jordin Sparks had guests singing along and moving to the music. Jordin Sparks paid tribute to Whitney Houston with “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” and later performed her hit “No Air,” turning the ballroom into a shared moment of nostalgia and celebration.

The performances did more than entertain. They brought lightness to an evening centered on a condition that has caused pain, fear and uncertainty for many women. The music reminded the audience that health advocacy can exist alongside joy, connection and the freedom to celebrate being present.

That balance gave the summit its heart.

The Fibroid Fighters Foundation Summit did not present women only as patients searching for treatment. It celebrated them as mothers, daughters, professionals, artists, advocates, partners and whole people who deserve access to care without losing sight of the lives they are fighting to enjoy.

The evening was also shaped by the work of Gen Johnson, who played an important role in organizing and coordinating the summit.

By the end of the evening, the message was clear.

Women deserve to understand what is happening inside their bodies. They deserve physicians who explain their choices. They deserve families and communities that believe their pain. They deserve moments of rest, celebration and joy. Most importantly, they deserve to know that suffering in silence is not their only option.

The Fibroid Fighters Foundation Summit gave women more than information. It gave them a room filled with voices reminding them that their health matters, their questions are valid and their lives deserve to be lived in full bloom.

This original reporting was produced by Zollyann Howell for UNWRITTEN Media. Visit www.unwrittenmedia.us and follow @theunwritten.media for more interviews, event coverage and stories that matter.