Renowned Nigerian media personality, Toke Makinwa, has bravely shared her experience of undergoing surgery to remove 13 fibroids from her body, shedding light on a health condition that affects many women but often goes undiscussed.
Makinwa’s revelation comes in the wake of the release of Stephanie Coker’s documentary titled “Where the Heck is My Period,” which delves into the challenges women face with reproductive health issues.
In her candid disclosure, Makinwa revealed that fibroids have been a prevalent issue among the women in her family, with some having to undergo hysterectomies (removal of the uterus) due to the condition.
Recalling her own journey with fibroids, Makinwa recounted growing up with symptoms such as a distended abdomen, irregular periods, and discomfort when lying down.
She said: “PCOS I haven’t had but I’ve had fibroids. Just watching the documentary, there are a lot of similarities between symptoms and the bloating. I remember when I started off in this industry and you had to host shows. I remember I had to wear like two waist cinchers or three waist cinchers because I was so tiny but I had a belly and people would always ask if you’re pregnant. I was tired of people asking “are you pregnant?” and you know how there would be photos on red carpets and it’ll be everywhere and everyone would be talking about the fact that “oh my god, is she pregnant, or what has she eaten?”
“I’ve had cousins who’ve had to take out their wombs. It’s very daunting. It’s one of the most stressful things. I think one of the worst parts of it is bleeding excessively. I mean, I didn’t bleed for a hundred and something days, but I know about you just seeing your period when you’re not expecting it. I know about you sitting somewhere and you get up and someone has to move close to you and say “oh your period”.
“I’m happy Stephanie Coker did this documentary because women can come together and talk about it. It does a lot to your self-esteem. You’re just nervous all the time. The anxiety levels are high. Eventually, when I got surgery, I had 13 fibroids taken out of me. Tiny me, thirteen.”
