Ex-beauty queen Nike Oshinowo has inspired a lot of women with endometriosis to speak out after her speech at the recent Gala Night of the Fun and Fund Raising for Endometriosis event in Lagos.
She had suffered from this ailment for so long that Nigerians got to know about her condition only when she turned 40. The ailment which can cause infertility is greatly feared but Nike has made the awareness since she had lived with endometriosis since the age of 13.
During Nike’s first few days in secondary school in England that was when she began her (menstrual) periods. An ambulance was called and she was hospitalized for 10 days because the pain started and wouldn’t stop. She said “ I thought I was going to die, the first two days I was in the infirmary. I’m telling the story because it happened in England and, supposedly, the white people, who knew best, yet had no idea what was wrong with me.”
She revealed “Until I turned 40, Nigerians didn’t know I suffered from endometriosis. I granted an interview and Nigerians understood why I never drank alcohol. You cannot be on medication and take alcohol. It was finally understood why I was so clean cut and into healthy living. The first time I experienced the pain of endometriosis was very traumatic. I thought I was going to die.
Really, I have lost count of the number of surgeries that I have had but I sure know that it’s more than 17 times.”
