Renowned ABC News anchor Linsey Davis is using her platform to shed light on a deeply personal health struggle, revealing her yearslong battle with uterine fibroids and her recent decision to undergo a hysterectomy. Davis, a familiar face as the anchor of “ABC News Live Prime” and the Sunday edition of “World News Tonight,” hopes that sharing her story will raise crucial awareness for a condition that affects millions of women, many of whom suffer in silence.
In a candid conversation with singer Tamar Braxton and model Cynthia Bailey, both of whom have also been public about their experiences, Davis detailed the debilitating symptoms she endured while maintaining a demanding career in front of the camera. “I feel like if there is an 80% instance in anyone’s health, it should be a priority,” Davis stated, referencing the staggering statistic from the U.S. Office on Women’s Health that up to 80% of women develop fibroids by age 50.
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous muscular tumors that grow in or on the wall of the uterus. While some women experience no symptoms, others, like Davis, face painful menstrual cycles, heavy bleeding, severe bloating, and extreme fatigue. The physical toll can be immense, but the emotional and social impact is often just as challenging. Davis recalled an embarrassing moment while covering the Oscars when her fibroid-related bloating led to social media speculation that she was pregnant. Bailey echoed this sentiment, sharing, “I stayed on the celebrity baby bump alert. Like I was always giving I was pregnant with imaginary children because of my fibroids.”
The conversation also highlighted a critical health disparity. According to the Office on Women’s Health, Black women are more likely to develop fibroids and often experience more severe symptoms. Dr. Soyini Hawkins, an Atlanta-based gynecologist who joined the discussion, explained that genetics play a role, and that for Black women, higher melanin levels can block Vitamin D, which is associated with fibroid growth. Braxton noted that the condition was normalized in her family, preventing earlier diagnosis and understanding. “It’s a normalized situation, especially in the Black women community,” she said.
For years, Davis managed her symptoms, but the constant need to plan her life around the pain and discomfort ultimately led her to seek a permanent solution. Treatment for fibroids can range from medications and less invasive procedures to hysterectomy, the surgical removal of the uterus, which is the only definitive cure. As a mother to a young son, Davis decided this was the right path for her. “It causes me enough angst and grief, and, you know, planning my day differently, accordingly, that I really feel like I’m ready to be finished with this journey,” she explained.
Davis is an Emmy® Award-winning journalist and a New York Times best-selling author of several children’s books. Throughout her distinguished career, she has covered major global events and moderated presidential debates. By opening up about her personal health, she is bringing the same dedication and clarity to a widespread issue, encouraging a vital dialogue and empowering other women to seek help and advocate for their own health.
