Editorial

Janet Mbugua reveals struggle with endometriosis in #3DaysOfYellow campaign

PublishedMarch 25, 2019

Former news anchor Janet Mbugua has today opened up about her struggle with little-known reproductive condition endometriosis which is a condition that causes debilitating pain during menstruation in women of reproductive age.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, the mother of two revealed how painful periods had affected her life causing her to be put on birth control to manage the pain.

View this post on Instagram

#3DaysOfYellow Day 1 – This was me in 2015. Ten years earlier, in 2005, I had just undergone a laparoscopy for deep ovarian endometriosis, also known as endometriomas or ovarian cysts. It causes the formation of cavities within the ovary that fill with blood. It had been years, literally since high school, of painful, prolonged periods that sometimes rendered me unable to go to class or to the office, especially during the first few days of my cycle. Finally getting a diagnosis was such a breakthrough and I was put on birth control thereafter and have had to continue using this, except for the times we were trying for a baby. Until today, if I don’t take my medication, I’ll struggle during my period. Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years (ie. usually between the ages of 15 to 49), which is approximately 176 million women in the world. So, let’s wear yellow and stand with endo warriors like @elsie_odhiambo @jahmbykoikai and many others. Let’s talk periods and most importantly, let’s talk period pain. Because ladies (and gents), a very painful, prolonged period is NOT normal. #Period. #PeriodConversations #MenstruationMatters #EndometriosisMonth #YellowForEndometriosis

A post shared by Janet Mbugua (@officialjanetmbugua) on Mar 24, 2019 at 9:04pm PDT

Although she is only speaking of it now, Janet has battled the condition for over a decade, having been diagnosed in 2005.

“It had been years, literally since high school, of painful, prolonged periods that sometimes rendered me unable to go to class or to the office, especially during the first few days of my cycle,” read the post in part.

As part of the #3DaysOfYellow the media personality called for both men and women to support other endo-warriors such as Elsie Wandera and media personality, Jahmbi Koikai.

Endometriosis is an often painful disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside of the uterus, the endometrium, grows outside your uterus.

Endometriosis most commonly involves your ovaries, Fallopian tubes and the tissue lining your pelvis. Rarely, endometrial tissue may spread beyond pelvic organs.

Find out more awareness campaigns on endometriosis in the video below: