At as women every donation you make directly supports groundbreaking scientific and medical research dedicated entirely to women's health. For far too long womens unique medical conditions, biological conditions, and healthcare needs have been immensely underepresented and underresearched in the medical community. This issue is not just simply clinical; it is a deeply personal one. Many of us have a mother, daughter, sister, wife, or friend whose life has been greatly impacted by health issues that remain poorly understood and underfunded. I believe that this systemic gap in knowledge costs lives and delays critical care. By funding dedicated research initiatives, I aim to bridge this gap, bring long overdue attention to these conditions, and pave the way for safer, and more effective treatments for our women. Your generousity is not just a donation—it is a vital investment in protecting the women we all love, and ensuring a healthier, more equitable future.
At as women, we are proud to champion the pioneering work of Dr. Ayman Al-Hendy at the University of Chicago. His team is tackling one of the most widespread yet severely underfunded crises in women's health: uterine fibroids. For decades, a woman's only real option for managing these painful, benign tumors has been serious, invasive surgery—most notably a hysterectomy. This lack of non-surgical alternatives represents a profound gap in healthcare that deeply impacts millions of families.
This crisis carries a particularly heavy burden for women of color. According to data published by the National Institutes of Health (NIH):
Higher Risk & Earlier Onset: Women of color, particularly Black women, are significantly more likely to develop fibroids and experience them at a much younger age.
Severe Symptoms: They frequently suffer from larger, more debilitating tumors and more severe bleeding.
Surgical Disparities: Because of a historic lack of early, non-invasive interventions, women of color undergo hysterectomies at more than double the rate of white women.
Dr. Al-Hendy’s laboratory seeks to change this narrative. By pioneering groundbreaking clinical trials into natural, non-surgical treatments—like green tea extract (EGCG) and Vitamin D—his research aims to safely shrink tumors, eliminate the need for major surgery, and preserve a woman’s fertility. Funding this work is absolutely critical. Despite how life-altering this condition is, it remains deeply underrepresented in federal research budgets. Your support helps Dr. Al-Hendy bridge this massive gap, helping to create accessible, non-invasive treatments that protect the health, choices, and future of the women we love.