Reproductive Women Warned of Painful Menstrual Period

Painful Menstrual Period

Reproductive age girls have been warned never to assume that painful menstrual period is a normal development, but should seek to know why they have to undergo serious pain during their period as it could turn out to be a product of endometriosis.

A Gynaecologist, Dr. Yemi Ajayi of the Nordica Fertility Centre described endometriosis as a female health disorder that occurs when cells from the lining of the womb (uterus) grow in other areas of the body, which can lead to pain, irregular bleeding and problem of getting pregnant.

He described it as a common condition that occurs in about five-ten per cent of women within reproductive age group (15-44 years) worldwide, stressing that women with the condition have 20 per cent less chances of having children.

Ironically, he noted that the condition has been misdiagnosed or not diagnosed, noting that even in the developed countries, a woman may have suffered from the condition for up to eight years before proper diagnosis is done.

According to him, in Africa, the situation is worse because, very little is known about the condition.

“Therefore, a lot of women live with it without even being diagnosed as the condition was believed not to be common among blacks before now. Over the years, it has been discovered that no race is left out of this excruciating ordeal,” he said.

Ajayi said the month of March has been declared annually as the month of awareness for endometriosis in the world since it has been discovered that over 70 million women globally suffer from the incurable disease. The month is also to identify with women living with the condition.

Talking at a recent press conference, about what his hospital plan for women with the condition, he said Nordica Fertility Centre, with offices in Lagos, Abuja and Asaba, in conjunction with the Endometriosis Support Group(ESG) have joined other organisations in the world to comfort those women and tell them despite that despite the pain they are not alone.

According to him, the major objective of the hospital is to create awareness for the condition among members of the public and particularly members of medical profession and therefore the activities that are free and opened to everyone will start on March 20, with Nurses’ forum at the hospital’s office in Lagos.

On March 23, there will be endometriosis walk, starting from 9.am, at the City Mall to Falomo Bridge and back to the hospital, Norman Williams Street, Ikoyi, Lagos., while on April 1, Doctors’ Forum will hold at the Abuja office of the hospital and on April 2, there will be endometriosis walk at the Ladi Kwali Hall, Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.