What Endometriosis Patients Have to Go Through

 By Barbra Wainana    

Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissues similar to the lining of the uterus(womb) grow outside the uterus cavity causing severe pain in the pelvis, inflammation, irregular periods and heavy vaginal bleeding, pain during and after sexual intercourse, abdominal bloating, nausea, fatigue, pain during urination or bowel movement, sometimes depression, anxiety and can also lead to infertility.

Many women are affected but awareness and understanding of this disease remain limited thus leading to delayed diagnosis and inadequate support.

In Kenya, many women experience pain in the silent agony of the course of endometriosis, it is often misdiagnosed and dismissed because of the cultural stigmas surrounding menstrual health. For endometriosis to be diagnosed it usually takes a lot of time which makes women suffer more and later makes them normalize their pain.

Natalie's Journey.

Radio personality Natalie Githinji is vocal about endometriosis and wishes to have an audience with the president on the disease.

Natalie Githinji,27 years old battled endometriosis from the age of 12 years when she was in primary school. She experienced pain during her periods which at first thought was normal. As years went by the pain increased which made her seek medical treatment but none of the doctors, she visited took her condition seriously, telling her that it is normal for women to experience pain during their period.

After 10 years of struggling and going to different hospitals, she finally went to a gynaecologist where she was diagnosed with endometriosis. She felt heartbroken after receiving the news. She later opted for surgery to remove it but unfortunately it had already spread to her bladder. Now she is under medication to reduce pain. Natalie says that there's an unknown cure for this disease.

   Njambi Journey.

Njambi Koikai, who died of endometriosis at 38.

Njambi Koikai was a Kenyan media personality and an advocate of reggae music and roots culture. She was diagnosed with endometriosis after 17 years of struggling. Endometriosis made it difficult for her to pursue academics.

She was expelled from four schools and after she finished high school, she joined the United States International University (USIU) where she pursued a degree in International Relations. It took her eight years to finish her degree which she was struggling with and was not easy for her.

This condition escalated to the point where her lungs collapsed during her menstrual cycle. Her condition got worse which led her to seek specialized care abroad. She underwent 10 surgeries which shows how strong she was. Her openness about her journey has been raising awareness and advocating for better healthcare solutions for Kenyan women. She later died at the age of 38.

Natalie and Njambi are among many women who struggled with this monster disease, some of which lack awareness and others lack access to specialized care, while others cannot afford treatment since the treatment is very expensive. This narrative shows the need to raise awareness and support those affected by this condition.

Organizations like the endometriosis foundation of Kenya should at least create awareness campaigns, support groups and educational programs to inform both the public and health care professionals about endometriosis. These efforts will help reduce stigma and encourage women to seek timely medical treatment without fear.

Menstrual health education should be included in school curricula and can play a role of early recognition and treatment of endometriosis.

Furthermore, healthcare providers should be trained to recognize symptoms early and also to providers should also foster an environment where women can feel comfortable discussing their menstrual health.

Endometriosis remains a significant health concern for many Kenyan women. Through awareness, education and support, there is hope for early diagnosis and effective treatment and there will be improvement of the quality of life for those affected.