Former Netflix CMO and current Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Bozoma Saint John recently underwent surgery to remove uterine fibroids. The 47-year-old opened up about the procedure on the show’s After Show, revealing her desire to have children with her boyfriend, Keely Watson, as a motivating factor.
Saint John discussed the experience with costar Dorit Kemsley, admitting that while the surgery was daunting, her fibroids weren’t causing life-threatening symptoms. “Honestly, when I had been discussing my fibroids with my doctor, it wasn’t a life-threatening situation,” she explained. “I know that there are a lot of women who have very severe symptoms of their fibroids. I wasn’t one of those people. However, they were large, they were growing. And I just felt like, why wait until some other point where I don’t have a choice in order to do it?”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, uterine fibroids are noncancerous tumors that grow in and on the uterus. While often asymptomatic, they can cause pain and heavy bleeding, and in some cases, impact fertility. Fibroids are most common in women aged 30 to 50. A myomectomy, the surgical procedure Saint John underwent, removes the fibroids.
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Saint John, already a mother to daughter Lael from her previous marriage to the late Peter Saint John, expressed her and Watson’s desire for a larger family. Watson, who has no children, hopes to have up to three. “And then on top of it, it’s like, again, I’m not getting any younger. If I’m having these conversations with Keely,” Saint John shared, “And I truly believe that we have the opportunity to create a bigger family, then why not do it right now?” She emphasized the impact of the fibroids on her ability to conceive, stating, “With the fibroids, I have zero chance [at conceiving]. Also, I want a shot. I want a shot at it. So then I gotta choose to do it.”
Kemsley revealed the surprising number of fibroids discovered during the procedure, asking, “Wasn’t there like 12?” Saint John confirmed, adding, “Yes, and one of them was the size of a grapefruit.”
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Saint John joins other housewives, including Cynthia Bailey and Ubah Hassan, who have publicly discussed their experiences with fibroids. According to the Mayo Clinic, Black women are disproportionately affected by fibroids. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Bravo.
