by Ambra Brice
I never thought back pain would lead me here.
When my fibroid journey began, I wasn’t dealing with the classic symptoms people always talk about — heavy bleeding, clots, periods that knock you down for days. For me, it started with this sharp, spiking back pain that ran straight through my lower spine. Then came the pressure when I used the restroom. Then pain during sex with my husband — something I didn’t even know had a name until recently: dyspareunia.
At first, none of it felt connected. Back pain felt like… back pain. I didn’t once think “uterus.” But during a routine pap smear, my OB/GYN pressed on my abdomen and paused.
“I can feel them,” she said.
Fibroids. Big ones.
The bloating I’d ignored suddenly made sense. The pain. The pressure. My body had been trying to tell me something for months.
What I didn’t know then was how important it would be to find the right doctor — a provider who wouldn’t just diagnose me, but partner with me, educate me, and actually listen.
When a Hospital Tries to Sign You Up for Surgery on the Spot
My OB/GYN referred me to a fibroid specialist at a major hospital.
I barely sat down before the doctor said:
“You have fibroids. I can schedule you for surgery next week.”
Just like that.
No real explanation of what fibroids are.
No conversation about alternatives.
No MRI.
No discussion about my age, my lifestyle, or the fact that I’d just gotten married and wanted kids.
Just surgery — immediately.
It felt rushed. Aggressive. Impersonal. And honestly? A little scary.
Yes, I had thirteen fibroids, including one the size of a fist pressing into my bladder — the source of all that pain. But surgery is major. And I had never had any kind of serious procedure before.
I remember thinking:
“Shouldn’t I know more before doing something this big?”
So I did what most women end up doing when they don’t feel fully informed:
I went home and started researching.
Finding Viva Eve — and Finding Real Answers
I googled “fibroid specialists in NYC,” and Viva Eve popped up. Their site felt different — informative, human, thorough. I sent it to a friend who’s a nurse, and she said, “This looks legit. You should go.”
So I booked an appointment.
From the moment I walked in, I knew I had found the right place.
At Viva Eve, I wasn’t just handed a surgery date. I was introduced to a team —
• a concierge who partnered with me through every step,
• a fibroid nurse navigator who explained the medical side in a way that made sense,
• and a doctor who treated me like an actual partner in my own care.
The biggest difference?
Education came first. Always.
Before recommending anything, they ordered an MRI — something the hospital never even suggested. Seeing my fibroids mapped out inside my body for the first time was life‑changing. I finally understood what was happening inside me, not just the pain I was feeling.
Choosing UFE — and Why It Was Right for Me
Because my husband and I want kids, fertility preservation was a huge priority. At the hospital, “myomectomy” was the only word anyone offered me. At Viva Eve, I learned there were multiple paths — and UFE (Uterine Fibroid Embolization) could be one of them.
For my body and my fibroids, UFE was:
- the least invasive,
- the quickest recovery,
- and the lowest impact on fertility.
Instead of a year of waiting like with myomectomy, UFE meant about a six‑month wait before trying for a family. It allowed me time — emotionally and physically — without pressure, without rushing, without fear.
And the procedure?
A tiny incision. One band‑aid. I went home the same day.
The prep was thoughtful and thorough, and I felt taken care of every step of the way. After everything I’d been through before finding Viva Eve, the compassion alone felt healing.
What I Wish More Women Knew
Once I started opening up about my fibroid journey, I was shocked at how many Black women around me whispered, “I have them too.”
Older women. Younger women. Women who had surgeries. Women who quietly lived with pain. Women who’d been brushed off or told it was “not a big deal.”
Fibroids impact up to 70% of women.
Yet we act like it’s some silent, shameful thing — because for generations, it has been treated that way by the medical system.
That’s why I share my story.
That’s why I’m grateful Viva Eve invited me to tell it.
Because the more we talk, the more women know they have options.
How to Know You’re at the Right OB/GYN
My litmus test is simple now:
✔️ You feel educated, not rushed.
If you walk out of an appointment with more confusion than clarity, that’s a red flag.
✔️ Your provider talks with you, not at you.
Your body, your goals, your future matter.
✔️ You’re given real options — not just the quickest path to surgery.
✔️ You feel seen as a whole person, not a checklist.
✔️ You walk away with next steps that make you feel empowered, not scared.
At Viva Eve, I felt all of that.
Moving Forward
UFE gave me my life back — my comfort, my confidence, and the ability to build the family my husband and I dream of someday. The journey wasn’t easy, but I’m grateful I didn’t settle for the first answer I was given.
Women deserve time.
We deserve information.
We deserve options.
And most of all — we deserve care that honors our whole selves.
If you’re reading this and wondering whether you’re at the right OB/GYN, listen to your body. Listen to your intuition. And don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself until you find a team that advocates for you too.
