00:00Painting is a therapeutic outlet for Anne Johnson, a way to process the pain lingering
00:08from years of trying to have a child.
00:11It was really an emotional rollercoaster and it really took a toll.
00:16I'm going to get all emotional.
00:20It was really frustrating because I couldn't get an answer.
00:26She fell pregnant six times but never carried a baby to full term.
00:31Unaware uterine fibroids and undiagnosed endometriosis were impacting her fertility.
00:38When you don't have hope, it's very depressing that you can't have a child because I only
00:51wanted one.
00:52I wasn't being greedy.
00:54Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumours forming in and around the muscle layer of
00:58the uterus.
00:59The growths range from 1 to 20 centimetres in diameter.
01:04Many women are asymptomatic but others experience fertility issues, intense pain and heavy periods.
01:11The medical doctors said, oh that's just one of those things when you're a woman that you
01:16put up with.
01:17The cause remains a mystery.
01:19You might see fibroids that completely take up the whole muscle layer of that uterus and
01:25it's like, why did this happen?
01:27They're considered common yet the number of women affected remains unclear due to a lack
01:32of research.
01:33Dr Hunter believes one in three women have uterine fibroids.
01:38There is a lot of scope for looking into how and what type of fibroids might be impactful
01:44on infertility.
01:46Advocates want more support.
01:49So if you do think it might not be normal or you are worried, come and see someone.
01:54Come and actually reach out for help.
01:56This WA Women's Health and Wellbeing Policy commits to improving how conditions like uterine
02:01fibroids are treated and diagnosed.
02:04The Department of Health says they facilitate ongoing training and educational opportunities
02:09in obstetrics and gynaecology.
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