This archive report was first published on 21 August 2019.
Media personality Janet Mbugua has spoken out about her struggles with painful periods, a topic often considered taboo in many communities.
On August 21, 2019, Janet Mbugua, a Lifebuoy brand ambassador and former Citizen TV presenter, shared her personal experience with painful periods, stating that it was common among most women.
"Some experience the pain in form of cramps sometimes in the tummy, back and neck but the problem comes if it is excruciating pain, whereby you’ve tried to take mediation and it’s not going away," Janet said.
Janet, who has been open about her struggles with endometriosis, revealed that she had undergone a laparoscopy procedure to address her ovarian cyst and severe pain.
"I had ovarian cyst growing so I had laparoscopy many years ago. Because my pain was very severe, I felt that there was something wrong and was right about it," she explained.
Janet advised women to seek medical attention if they experience persistent and severe pain during their periods, which could be indicative of conditions such as endometriosis or fibroids.
"If it’s mild pain and it will go away after taking painkillers but if it’s bad and consistent then there’s probably an issue around endometriosis, fibroids. This applies to if you bleed for more than a week when you’re on your periods," she said.
Janet also shared her personal remedies for managing her painful periods, including using hot water bottles, eating a balanced diet, and exercising regularly.
"I try all home remedies because my periods are really bad. Hot water bottles work for me, eating right [a lot of vegetables and water], exercising," she said.
