Understanding the reality of living with fibroids. 

Detected Manipulations & Suggested Changes

Appeal to emotion

Using emotionally charged language or stories to elicit strong feelings that can influence perception beyond the factual content.

1) “Just hearing that there was something that could hinder me from getting pregnant was devastating.” 2) “I prayed, named my baby ‘Winner’, and stayed in bed rest while receiving progesterone and constant medical care. It was the hardest nine months of my life, but Winner was born alive and healthy at 37 weeks.” 3) “I nearly lost my life that day. A few more minutes without intervention, and I honestly don’t know what would have happened.” These quotes are authentic personal testimonies, but they are framed in highly emotional terms (devastating, hardest nine months, nearly lost my life) that can heighten fear and anxiety about fibroids and pregnancy. The article does not counterbalance these with data on how common such severe complications are versus more typical, less dramatic courses.

3 suggestions

After emotional quotes, add contextual data to anchor readers in typical risk levels, e.g., “While some women, like Joycemary, experience severe complications, many others with fibroids have uncomplicated pregnancies. Studies show that X–Y% of women with fibroids carry pregnancies without major complications.”

Rephrase some narrative transitions to be more neutral, for example: instead of “It was the hardest nine months of my life,” the article could say, “Her pregnancy involved prolonged bed rest and close medical monitoring due to the fibroids.”

Include at least one contrasting patient story with a more routine or mild experience of fibroids to avoid an overly dramatic overall impression.

Oversimplification

Presenting a complex medical or scientific issue in a way that is too absolute or simplistic, potentially misleading readers about nuance or variability.

Lupita Nyong’o’s doctor is quoted as saying: “You can’t. It’s only a matter of time until they grow again.” This is presented as a direct quote without clarification. While fibroids do often recur, the statement is absolute and does not reflect nuances such as differences in recurrence risk by age, treatment type, hormonal status, or lifestyle factors. The rest of the article later mentions lifestyle choices that may reduce risk, which partially contradicts the absolute tone of this quote.

3 suggestions

Immediately follow the quote with clarifying context, e.g., “Doctors note that fibroids frequently recur, especially in women who are still of reproductive age. However, recurrence risk can vary depending on factors such as age, type of treatment, and hormonal changes.”

Add a brief expert comment to qualify the statement: “Dr Ngumbi explains that while there is currently no guaranteed way to prevent fibroids from returning, some women may experience slower growth or fewer recurrences, and ongoing research is exploring potential preventive strategies.”

Avoid absolute phrasing in the narrative voice; clearly mark this as one doctor’s perspective and not a universal, unqualified medical fact.

Appeal to authority

Relying on the status of an expert or celebrity to support a point, rather than providing evidence or broader context.

1) “According to Dr Stephen Ngumbi, they are very common among women in their 20s to 40s, yet many remain undiagnosed.” 2) The article references Lupita Nyong’o and Ninah Mpendwa’s experiences with fibroids. The use of a named doctor is appropriate, but the article does not reference any specific studies or data to support claims about prevalence or undiagnosed cases. Celebrity experiences are used to illustrate that fibroids affect well-known women, which can subtly lend extra weight to the issue through their status rather than through data.

3 suggestions

Supplement the doctor’s statements with brief data or citations, e.g., “Studies estimate that up to X–Y% of women of reproductive age develop fibroids, and many are asymptomatic and therefore undiagnosed.”

Clarify that celebrity stories are illustrative, not evidence: “Lupita Nyong’o’s and Ninah Mpendwa’s experiences highlight that fibroids can affect women from all walks of life, but medical understanding of fibroids is based on large clinical studies.”

Where possible, add references to guidelines or reputable health organizations (e.g., WHO, national obstetrics/gynecology associations) to ground claims beyond individual authority.