A doctor in Lagos, Dr. Ademola Ayodele, is asking for better education on menstrual pain. He wants to help girls and women who suffer from it.
Dr. Ayodele works at a fertility center. He talked about this issue in an interview on Wednesday.
Not all period pain is the same. Sometimes, it can be a sign of a problem called endometriosis. Endometriosis is when cells like the ones inside the uterus grow outside of it.
Many girls and women think all period pain is just normal. But Dr. Ayodele says that this is not always true. Pain can be a sign of other health issues like infection or fibroids.
Because of this, the doctor says it’s important for girls and women to see a doctor when they have painful periods.
Parents, caregivers, and teachers should not just assume all period pain is normal. They should help girls get the medical help they need.
Normal period pain usually starts a day before the period and goes away once the period starts or with medicine. But pain caused by problems like endometriosis lasts throughout the period and doesn’t go away with medicine.
Many women with endometriosis suffer in silence and feel very sad. This is why we need to talk more about this issue. It’s important for everyone to know so they can make good choices about their health.