Introducing Yvonne Maye, Trustee...Fibroid Forum UK

Fibroid Forum UK exists to educate women about fibroids and empower them to make informed choices about their treatment options. We also advocate for better medical care and research of fibroids.

The charity was formed in 2016 by five women who had suffered from fibroids.

Their experiences motivated them to set up an organisation that would bring greater awareness of the condition, particularly around its symptoms, treatment options and the emotional impact. Together, they experienced varying levels of care and information about the available treatments for fibroids.

Our Mission
Our vision is a world where every woman affected by fibroids feels empowered and equipped with the information needed to navigate her healthcare journey confidently. We aspire to create a supportive community where individuals impacted by fibroids find solidarity, understanding, and reliable resources. By championing better medical care and advancing research initiatives, we envision a future where the impact of fibroids is minimised and every woman’s well-being is prioritised and optimised.

Support Groups
We run quarterly support groups.

Living with fibroids, and being asked to make a decision around surgical options can be emotional and difficult for women and their loved ones. Our support groups provide a safe, informal setting for women to meet together and share your questions and concerns, both before and after surgery.

The support groups are also a space to hear from medical professionals and experts. Some of our past guest speakers include Dr Lakshmi Arumugam Ratnam (Consultant Interventional Radiologist), Dr Sally King (Founder of Menstrual Matters), Ms Sohier Elneil (Consultant Urogynaecologist and Uro-neurologist) and Bridgette York (Founder of Fibroid Network and Solicitor).

For some of the sessions, we have been supported by a fibroids nurse practitioner.

“Thank you for having me at your event.
It was very informative and comforting to know there are many other women going through fibroids”

– Fibroids Support Group attendee

Raising Awareness
We host events to raise awareness of fibroids. Previous speakers include Professor Isaac Manyonda (Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and instrumental in establishing the first and still one of the few cutting-edge dedicated centres for research and treatment of fibroid disease), Miss Shirin Irani and Dr Paul Crowe from the Birmingham Fibroid Clinic, Carole Webley Brown (an experienced nurse who is now part of the Royal College of Nursing Council) and Paulette Bassan (a Clinical Skills Trainer).

We are also developing materials for schools to ensure that younger women are fully aware of the symptoms of fibroids so they can seek medical advice as soon as possible.

Enabling Research
Fibroids Forum UK contributed to the All Party Parliamentary Group’s Women’s Health report on informed choice for women which highlighted insufficient care and concern for women with endometriosis and fibroids.

Members of our Facebook and support groups contributed to Phoebe Hanson Lowe’s thesis entitled “Persistence, Resistance, Assistance: on Black fibroid patients’ experience of illness, patienthood, and (self-)care”. Ms Hanson Lowe’s thesis went on to win the Mario Rutten Master Thesis Prize. Mario Rutten was a professor of Comparative Sociology and Anthropology of Asia at the University of Amsterdam.

CONTACT
[email protected]