Porsha Williams says she had emergency surgery after finding fibroid the size of a cantaloupe

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Porsha Williams is opening up about a major health scare that changed her life and ended her ability to carry another child.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta star, 45, revealed that she underwent an emergency partial hysterectomy in May after doctors discovered 21 uterine fibroids, including one that had grown to the size of a cantaloupe.

Williams shared the news during an emotional interview with Gayle King on CBS Mornings, explaining that the diagnosis came unexpectedly while she was exploring whether she might have another child.

She Thought Her Symptoms Were Perimenopause

Williams said she had experienced several symptoms in the months leading up to the diagnosis, including unusually long menstrual cycles, migraines and severe fatigue.

At 45, she initially believed the changes could be related to perimenopause.

She only discovered the fibroids after accompanying a friend to a fertility appointment to discuss egg freezing. Because Williams already knew the doctor, she decided to ask for an examination of her own to determine whether she could still potentially carry another pregnancy.

During the examination, however, the doctor became quiet.

Williams recalled looking at the ultrasound screen and seeing what appeared to be large circular shapes. She was quickly referred to a specialist and sent for an MRI.

Doctors Found 21 Fibroids

The MRI revealed more than 15 large fibroids, along with endometriosis and another condition involving the uterine lining, according to Williams.

Doctors told her that a hysterectomy was necessary. She asked whether another treatment, such as the fibroid embolization she had undergone previously, could preserve her fertility.

This time, doctors told her there was no alternative.

Williams underwent a partial hysterectomy, meaning her uterus was removed while her ovaries were left intact. During the surgery, doctors discovered that she actually had 21 fibroids, with the largest roughly the size of a cantaloupe.

“It all happened so fast,” Williams told King. “It really didn’t hit me until I woke up in the hospital bed.”

A History of Fibroids and Pregnancy Loss

Williams has dealt with fibroids since her late 20s, when she was trying to become a mother.

During her first pregnancy, doctors discovered a fibroid that continued growing. Williams said it eventually outgrew the pregnancy, and she suffered a miscarriage at four months.

She later underwent a myomectomy to remove fibroids while preserving her uterus and eventually became pregnant with her daughter, Pilar Jhena, who was born in 2019. After Pilar's birth, Williams underwent uterine fibroid embolization in an effort to control the condition while preserving the possibility of having more children.

Losing the Possibility of Another Child

The timing of the diagnosis made the situation especially emotional for Williams.

She had recently started thinking seriously about having another child and had imagined giving her daughter a sibling.

The hysterectomy meant that possibility was permanently closed.

Williams said she struggled with the realization that she would no longer be able to carry another pregnancy and that she would not be able to retrieve eggs for a surrogate.

At the same time, she said the surgery dramatically improved her quality of life.

“It Saved My Life”

In an essay for Glamour, Williams said she ultimately came to view the surgery differently.

She said the fibroids had contributed to problems including migraines, low iron levels, frequent urination and other physical difficulties. She also revealed that the growths had become so extensive that they had affected her ability to have sex and placed pressure on her bladder.

“I didn’t have a choice about the hysterectomy, but it saved my life,” Williams wrote.

She said she is now more present and grateful for the time she has with Pilar, whom she has long described as her “rainbow baby.”

Porsha Wants Women to Advocate for Themselves

Williams is now using her experience to encourage other women to pay attention to their symptoms and speak up during medical appointments.

She said she initially assumed what she was experiencing was simply part of getting older.

Her message now is to avoid making that assumption without seeking medical advice.

“We have to stop diagnosing ourselves,” Williams said during her CBS Mornings interview, encouraging women to ask questions and advocate for themselves.

For Williams, sharing the story is about more than discussing her own surgery. She hopes speaking openly about fibroids, fertility and hysterectomy will help other women recognize symptoms sooner and feel less alone when facing difficult reproductive-health decisions.

Source: CBS Morning