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July is Fibroids Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on uterine fibroids, non-cancerous growths that affect millions of women, particularly those of African descent. Black women are two to three times more likely to develop fibroids than White women, often at younger ages, with more severe symptoms like heavy bleeding, debilitating pain, anaemia and fertility challenges. Yet, many suffer in silence.

Fibroids remain the leading cause of hysterectomy and Black women are estimated to be two to three times more likely to undergo surgery as a result. What appears to be a clinical endpoint is often shaped by a sequence of earlier missed opportunities, delayed recognition, limited intervention and constrained treatment pathways, which ultimately increase the likelihood of surgical menopause.

A large, decade-long observational study has found that regular tea consumption is associated with slightly stronger bone density in older women, while heavy coffee intake (five or more cups per day) is linked to lower bone density, particularly in postmenopausal women. These differences are modest, but they are not insignificant.

September marks Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month, a vital time to focus on early detection and prevention. Gynaecological cancers including ovarian, cervical, uterine, vaginal and vulvar cancers affect thousands of women each year.Yet research shows that Black women often face delayed diagnoses and poorer outcomes compared to white women, underscoring the need for culturally informed awareness and action.