Uterine Fibroids and the Need for Better Standard of Care | Dr Juan Carlos Arjona Ferreira & Dr Kalahn Taylor-Clark
Dr. Juan Camilo Arjona Ferreira & Dr. Kalahn Taylor-Clark of Myovant Sciences discuss the current standard of care for uterine fibroids. According to the Baird et al paper, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, by age 50, 80% of black women and 70% of white women will have uterine fibroids. While not every woman will be symptomatic, those who are will commonly experience heavy menstrual bleeding, which is often normalized and may result in delayed diagnosis.
**Thank you to Myovant Sciences for sponsoring this episode.**
This podcast episode is intended to raise awareness and instill a sense of urgency, challenging the status quo in uterine healthcare, serving as a reminder that women can and need to advocate for themselves and their family members. We cover the following:
- Heavy menstrual bleeding & when it may be a sign of uterine fibroids
- Uterine fibroids symptoms & prevalence
- How uterine fibroids are diagnosed & how our healthcare systems’ implicit bias might play a role in delayed diagnosis
- Uterine fibroid treatment options & how to know which is right for you
- Impact of uterine fibroids on women of color, specifically
- Ways to minimize uterine fibroids’ impact on those suffering, their loved ones, and overall society
“Patients with fibroids already live with a significant burden to manage their symptoms. The added financial impact increases the mental effects uterine fibroids can have on a patient. There are consequences over time on their health, self esteem, and careers. It’s a substantial impact.” – Dr. Juan Camilo Arjona Ferreira
“The normalization of women’s heavy periods and pain have left many people without the tools to understand when their periods are abnormal. When to seek treatment and how to get a diagnosis can be confusing, and frankly difficult to navigate” – Dr. Kalahn Taylor-Clark
Resources:
- Menstrual Health Spotify Podcast Playlist
- Uterine Fibroids with Dr. Jessica Opoku-Anane Episode
- The White Dress Project & The Fibroid Foundation
- Uterine Fibroids Toolkit: A Patient Empowered Guide by the Society for Women’s Health Research
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**The information shared by Fempower Health is not medical advice but for information purposes to enable you to have more effective conversations with your doctor. Always talk to your doctor before making health-related decisions. Additionally, the views expressed by this episode’s guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent, nor does it constitute an endorsement by Myovant Sciences of this episode.
About Dr. Juan Camilo Arjona Ferreira
He is the Chief Medical Officer at Myovant Sciences, a healthcare company aspiring to redefine care for women and men through purpose-driven science, empowering medicines, and transformative advocacy. He leads clinical development, including Myovant’s clinical programs in prostate cancer, uterine fibroids, and endometriosis. Prior to Myovant, he was the SVP of Clinical Development at Shionogi and spent over a decade at Merck & Co. where he was Executive Director of Clinical Research in Women’s Health. Dr. Arjona Ferreira earned his MD and completed his postgraduate specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Colegio Mayor del Rosario in Bogota, Colombia.
About Dr. Kalahn Taylor-Clark, PhD, MPH
She is Vice President & Head of Strategic Partnerships & Innovation at Myovant Sciences. Dr. Taylor-Clark oversees patient centered advocacy and digital innovation. Her team is responsible for driving transformative advocacy in the areas of women’s health and prostate cancer, addressing health equity, and advancing digital innovation strategies to improve patient experiences and outcomes. She holds a BA in International Relations from Tufts University, an MPH from Tufts School of Medicine, and a PhD in Health Policy from Harvard University.
