Alade Omowumi, 31, a Guidance and Counselling graduate of Adekunle Ajasin University, speaks about living with a congenital reproductive condition, years of pain and multiple surgeries, and appeals for financial support to complete treatment and realise the dream of marriage and motherhood
When did you realise that something was wrong with your reproductive health?
I was 15 when I started experiencing abdominal pain that lasted about four to five days every month. The pain occurred regularly, and I endured it for about three years before seeking medical attention.
When I eventually went to the hospital, the doctor asked if I had started menstruating. I explained that I had never seen my period, even though I experienced monthly abdominal pain.
I was referred to a general hospital, where I was told that I was menstruating internally but that the menstrual blood could not flow out. The doctor explained that the trapped blood was causing the pain.
What did the doctors recommend after discovering the problem?
The doctor asked if I had ever had sexual intercourse, and I said no. I was told that I needed surgery to address the menstrual problem. I was also told that the procedure would mean I would no longer be a virgin, but I did not mind because all I wanted was to get better.
At 18, I went for surgery. However, when the doctors examined me, they discovered that my vaginal canal was absent. This was not what they had expected, so they could not proceed with the operation as originally planned. I was subsequently scheduled for another surgery to create a vaginal opening.
Can you explain your condition to people who may not understand it?
I have an opening through which I urinate and another through which I pass stool. The opening that is absent is the vaginal opening through which a woman would normally have sexual intercourse.
Some people assume that I have no openings at all, but that is not the case. I can urinate and pass stool. It is the vaginal opening that is missing.
What happened when you eventually underwent surgery to create a vaginal opening?
I was asked to return to the hospital towards the end of September, and the surgery was scheduled for October 2, 2014.
The doctors created a vaginal opening, but it later became narrow. I cannot say it closed completely because I can still insert my finger, but penetration would not be possible. I believe this happened because I could not use the dilator after the surgery due to the severe pain I was experiencing.
After the operation, I also began having difficulty controlling my urine. When the catheter was removed, urine started leaking, and I could not hold it in. I had not experienced this problem before the surgery, so I believe it developed afterwards.
I was instructed to undergo vaginal dilation, but the pain made it difficult, and I was not recovering as expected. The urine leakage also continued.
Eventually, my mother asked that I be discharged because the hospital bills were accumulating, and I could not remain there indefinitely. We were told that I could return for follow-up appointments, so I was discharged with a urine bag.
Did the surgery resolve the problem with your menstrual flow?
No. After the surgery, my menstrual blood still did not flow out normally. It came out occasionally for a few months and then stopped, while the urine leakage continued.
On a few occasions, I sat on the toilet to urinate and noticed blood coming out. It would flow briefly and then stop. This happened about two or three times, but it never became regular.
Eventually, I stopped seeing the blood altogether. It continued to accumulate internally, causing my abdomen to swell. Whenever I went to the hospital, the doctors would drain the accumulated blood.
There were plans for me to undergo another surgery at the same hospital, but I was dissatisfied with the outcome of the previous procedure and was afraid to return there.
Does this mean you still menstruate internally?
Yes. This has been going on for about 14 or 15 years.
Did the doctors say there is a treatment for your condition?
Yes. After visiting another hospital, I was told that there was a solution. The doctors explained that my bladder needed to be repaired and that they would also have to create a vaginal opening. The aim is to allow my menstrual blood to flow out normally and enable me to have sexual intercourse.
However, the treatment has to be carried out in stages because of the complications I experienced after the earlier surgery.
The most recent surgery, which I underwent in September this year, was intended to address my urinary problem and help me urinate properly.
The remaining surgery is to enable me to menstruate normally and have sexual intercourse. That is the procedure for which I am currently seeking financial assistance.
How has this condition affected you?
It has not been easy. I have lived with this condition for years she laments