At 40 years old, I had always thought that my heavy, seven-day periods were something that every woman went through. As a teenager, my mother assured me that the discomfort and inconveniences were "normal." My doctor told me not to worry. So, I soldiered on, even when the cramps were so fierce, I'd curl up in a ball while my friends hovered helplessly around me. I believed that it was just my burden to bear.

We girls didn't discuss our periods back then. It was like we had all silently agreed to keep this period business to ourselves. If we hadn't, I might have realized that my ordeal wasn't something to endure, month after month, year after year.

As I got older, and the conversations with my girlfriends became more open, it dawned on me that my periods were indeed different. But at the time, different didn't mean "problem to fix," it meant "problem to persevere."

It wasn't until a few years ago, when I was at an annual wellness visit with a new OB/GYN, that I learned I had a treatable medical condition, and I was diagnosed with uterine fibroids.

After my diagnosis, I discovered I was not alone. I was shocked to discover that about seven out of ten women will be diagnosed with uterine fibroids by the age of 50. I also learned that uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths made from muscle or other cells and can develop on the inside or outside of the uterus.

Interestingly, Black women like me are three times more likely to experience uterine fibroids than our white counterparts, and genetics may play a role.

Women with uterine fibroids may have heavy periods, like mine, or bleed between periods. This type of bleeding can cause anemia, sometimes severe enough to require blood transfusions. Fibroids can also cause back pain, bladder problems, and problems getting pregnant for some.

Before my diagnosis, navigating school, at times, was a struggle. It was embarrassing how often I had to excuse myself to go to the restroom and change my pad. Despite studying health sciences, nothing I learned suggested that what I was going through wasn't "normal."

My textbooks said the average period lasted five days, and I figured two extra days weren't far off. But pain and excess bleeding are medical symptoms, and I should have been gentler to myself. Instead, I carried this burden into my career as a supervisor.

At work, I sometimes had to leave meetings to deal with my uterine fibroid symptoms, missing out on important discussions. Thankfully, I have close relationships with my coworkers. "My period is on," I'd say during meetings, and they understood. The pain was another beast entirely. The cramps were so powerful and unpredictable that I applied for intermittent Family and Medical Leave, which I would need to use about every other month. I could always count on my period coming, but its impact on my ability to work was a wild card.

During my annual wellness exam with my new OB/GYN shortly after moving to Florida, I explained my decades-long symptoms as I had several times before. At the time, I was considering in vitro fertilization (IVF) to start a family, and it was clear that my doctor felt that these symptoms could potentially interfere with my ability to get pregnant. He ordered a sonogram—and the results confirmed uterine fibroids.

It was such a relief to have a medical name to describe my lifelong discomfort, and we began to discuss treatments. He walked me through the medical and surgical options to treat uterine fibroids. We ultimately decided on a pill that I take each day. While it meant that I would have to postpone IVF, I felt that this was the best option for me that would give me the most flexibility to potentially expand my family someday.

My doctor prescribed Myfembree—relugolix, estradiol, and norethindrone acetate—an FDA-approved medicine, to manage the bleeding and it has worked well for me. I no longer dread "that time of the month." I even started talking about uterine fibroids to my friends and family. I tell them not to be ashamed and to speak to their doctors about their period because there are treatment options available.

These open conversations have helped some women with difficult periods work with their physicians to find alternatives to surgery. It feels incredible knowing that I might have helped someone escape the cycle of pain I was trapped in for so long.

Yes, periods are normal—but heavy, painful, and long periods might not be. Uterine fibroids and the symptoms they cause are not just something you have to live with. I encourage moms to start talking to their daughters about their periods right from the start, so they know it's ok to speak up about their health, and I encourage others to share their experiences with their healthcare providers.

I am deeply grateful that I successfully advocated for myself and have been able to redefine what a normal period looks like for me.

Monique L. lives in Brandon, FL, where she is a call center supervisor for Health Insurance Programs. Monique is originally from Hartford, CT, and relocated to Florida in 2004. She enjoys swimming, fishing, painting, gardening, and the occasional trip to the casino. She has been taking MYFEMBREE, a once-daily pill for her uterine fibroid symptoms, for a little more than a year.

All views expressed are the author's own.

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