Rep. Yvette Clarke (D–Park Slope) is on bed-rest in her Flatbush home following surgery last Monday to remove uterine fibroids, said her spokeswoman, Chic Smith.
Smith said the congresswoman would stay on medical leave for at least another month.
Uterine fibroids, non-cancerous growths in the uterus, appear in as many as three out of four women, according to the Mayo Clinic. In rare cases, the fibroids can cause intense pelvic pain and surgery is required.
Clarke is still recovering from her surgery, and could not be reached for comment.
The former councilwoman was elected to the House of Representatives last year, following the retirement of Major Owens, who held the seat for 24 years. His retirement in 2006 sparked a five-way, divisive race for succession that included his son, Chris Owens, and Councilman David Yassky (D–Park Slope.)
On Tuesday, Smith, Clarke’s spokeswoman, took the opportunity to plug Clarke’s support of health care reform, saying, “Unlike approximately 46 million Americans, Rep. Clarke is fortunate to have access to health care and preventive medicine. She encourages women to have their annual gynecologic examination.”
