Women’s reproductive health advocate Gessie Thompson is again making headlines, not just for her fierce advocacy, but for a deeply personal moment that unfolded in front of the U.S. Capitol.
In a powerful Instagram post shared to her account @coachgessie, Thompson revealed that she became faint while standing on the Capitol steps, surrounded by fellow reproductive justice advocates and members of Congress.
The reason? Complications from Short Bowel Syndrome—a condition she developed after enduring multiple surgeries for uterine fibroids.
“What you see here is me becoming faint because I suffer from Short Bowel Syndrome due to complications from many fibroid surgeries that I may not have had to have if I knew my options,” Thompson wrote.
A Personal Battle Turned Public Campaign
Gessie Thompson, who has spent years advocating for women’s reproductive health with a specific focus on fibroids, used the moment to issue a call to action. She described fibroids as a “public health crisis” that disproportionately affects Black women, demanding that the medical community and lawmakers treat it with the urgency it deserves.
“Women need more: more resources, more options, more support,” she stated. “We can’t keep pacifying symptoms with short-term relief.”
Thompson was joined in Washington, D.C. by prominent Black women in Congress, including Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Rep. Shontel Brown (D-OH), and Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD). These elected officials have partnered with advocacy organizations like the Fibroid Foundation, We Can Wear White, and the Foundation for Women’s Health Research and Development, pushing for federal recognition and funding for fibroid research and treatment options.
Celebrities Helping to Normalize the Conversation
Thompson also praised public figures like Venus Williams and Lupita Nyong’o for using their platforms to speak candidly about their own reproductive health challenges, including fibroids:
“Thank you to high-profile figures and celebrities…who don’t mind sharing their stories to normalize this conversation for REAL CHANGE.”
What Are Uterine Fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that grow in and around the uterus, often during childbearing years. Symptoms may include heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, fatigue, and infertility. According to the National Institutes of Health, up to 80% of Black women will develop fibroids by age 50, often at a younger age and with more severe symptoms than their white counterparts.
Despite these staggering statistics, research funding and education around fibroids remain disproportionately low—something advocates like Thompson are working hard to change.
I Do This For Us, Always.
In her closing message, Thompson encouraged those affected to comment “🩷FIBROIDS🩷” on her post to receive additional resources.
“I do this for us, always,” she said. “Together, we can do this.”
