Tennis star Venus Williams has disclosed that she spent nearly three decades competing while suffering from undiagnosed uterine fibroids and adenomyosis—conditions that can cause severe pain, heavy bleeding and fatigue. She told NBC News that the symptoms were so intense she once lay on a locker-room floor in agony before winning the 2016 Wimbledon doubles title with her sister Serena. Doctors repeatedly dismissed the problems as normal aging and at one point suggested a hysterectomy, she said. Williams, 45, finally received a full diagnosis last year from Dr. Taraneh Shirazian at NYU Langone Health’s Center for Fibroid Care and underwent a myomectomy in July 2024 to remove the benign tumors while preserving her uterus. She said she recovered within a month and is now pain-free. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, who skipped Wimbledon 2025, is using Fibroid Awareness Month to urge women to press for proper care. “You can be denied the best health care no matter who you are,” she said, adding that patients must advocate for themselves. Williams has not announced retirement and hinted she may return to competition once fully rested.