From Pain to Power: A Story of Healing and Community Let me tell you about Tanya—a woman who went...
A Conversation & A Celebration of Black Women’s Health
March is here—a season of renewal, reflection, and, most importantly, a time to prioritize our reproductive and sexual health. This month also marks National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on March 10, a reminder that our health is interconnected and deserves the very best care.
At Health In Her HUE (HIHH), we believe that when Black women are left out of research or dismissed in healthcare, the solutions don’t work for us. That’s why we’re sharing the real stories of four incredible women—Tanya, Aaliyah, Blessing, and Shannon—who turned their health struggles into triumphs. Their journeys with fibroids, PCOS, endometriosis, and PMDD show us that knowledge, community, and self-advocacy can change everything.
So grab your favorite drink, settle in, and let’s talk about how we can take control of our health and our futures—together.
Our Health, Our Story: Reclaiming Our Power
Reproductive and sexual health is not just about test results or doctor visits—it’s about our lived experiences, our resilience, and our power. Black women have spent generations fighting for proper healthcare, being dismissed, and waiting too long for diagnoses. But today, we are rewriting that narrative.
Research shows that conditions like fibroids, PCOS, endometriosis, and PMDD hit Black women harder—with delayed diagnoses, fewer treatment options, and more severe symptoms than other groups.
As we honor National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, we’re reminded that health disparities impact every part of our well-being. Whether it’s dealing with chronic pain, heavy cycles, mood swings, or access to care, we must speak up, seek support, and demand better.
And that’s exactly what Tanya, Aaliyah, Blessing, and Shannon did.
Tanya’s Journey: From Pain to Power with Fibroids
For years, Tanya battled heavy bleeding, severe cramps, and a bloated belly that made everyday life a struggle. She worked through pain, canceled plans, and felt like she was always pushing through exhaustion.
Doctors kept saying it was “just part of being a woman,” but Tanya knew better.
At a routine check-up, she demanded an ultrasound—and the results confirmed what she had long suspected: fibroids. Nearly 80% of Black women will develop fibroids by age 50, and for many, they’re more painful and severe than in other groups.
Determined to take control, Tanya turned to Health In Her HUE:
💡 She started with the CarePoint: Fibroids Videos, which explained her condition in plain language—no confusing medical jargon.
👩🏾🤝👩🏿 She joined the Fibroids Virtual Care Squad, where she found support, symptom management tips, and hope.
📍 She used the Provider Directory to find a Black woman specialist who actually listened and offered real treatment options beyond surgery.
💬 She engaged in the Community Forum, a space where Black women share experiences, offer advice, and uplift one another.
With these resources, Tanya built a care plan that worked for her, incorporating holistic treatments, diet changes, and medical care. Today, she’s thriving—not just surviving.
Aaliyah’s Story: Finding Answers for PCOS
I met Aaliyah at Essence Fest, where she walked up to the Health In Her HUE table with tears in her eyes.
She had spent years struggling with weight gain, acne, painful cycles, and mood swings—but every doctor she saw told her the same thing: “Just lose weight and you’ll feel better.”
She never got the tests she needed. She never got real answers.
Right there, we pulled out the HIHH Provider Directory, and within minutes, she found a culturally competent doctor in her city. A few months later, she was officially diagnosed with PCOS.
For the first time, she had a treatment plan that worked—balancing medication with lifestyle changes that actually fit her life. Aaliyah’s journey proves the power of self-advocacy—and that we should never accept dismissal as an answer.
Blessing’s Blessing: Overcoming Endometriosis
Blessing suffered from excruciating period pain for years. Doctors dismissed her. Painkillers, diet changes, birth control—nothing worked.
She finally found Health In Her HUE, where she connected with a Black woman doctor who took her pain seriously.
Within months, she was diagnosed with endometriosis—a condition where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causing intense pain and complications.
With her new care team, she developed a treatment plan that combined hormone therapy, physical therapy, and holistic approaches. Today, she’s dancing again, laughing again, and living life without constant pain.
Shannon’s Story: Conquering PMDD
Shannon felt like she was battling two versions of herself. Half the month, she was fine. The other half? Mood swings, exhaustion, and emotional distress took over.
She thought it was just stress. She thought she was “too sensitive.”
Then, she found an HIHH article on PMDD—and it changed everything.
Tracking her symptoms with the HIHH Symptom Tracker helped her see a pattern. A Black woman doctor in the Provider Directory confirmed it: PMDD—Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, a severe form of PMS.
With a mix of therapy, nutrition adjustments, and medication, Shannon is finally in control of her emotions and her life.
Her journey is a call to action: if something feels off, trust yourself, track your symptoms, and demand answers.
Building Your Personalized Care Plan
At Health In Her HUE, we empower Black women to take charge of their health with personalized resources:
📺 CarePoint Videos – Breaking down fibroids, PCOS, endometriosis, and PMDD in clear, relatable language.
👩🏾🤝👩🏿 Care Squads – Community support groups where women connect, learn, and uplift one another.
📍 Provider Directory – Helping Black women and women of color find culturally competent doctors who actually listen.
💬 Community Forum – A safe space to ask questions, share experiences, and receive guidance.
Final Thoughts: Our Health, Our Power
March is more than just a month—it’s a time to reclaim our health, uplift our stories, and demand better care.
We deserve healthcare that sees us, hears us, and prioritizes us. Whether it’s fibroids, PCOS, endometriosis, PMDD, or HIV/AIDS awareness, our health challenges deserve real solutions.
✨ Advocate for yourself. Seek the right doctors. Lean on your community.
Your health is your power, sis. And together, we are unstoppable. 💛✨
