I believe I'll beat this monster and be a mum

Nancy Nthambi was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome five years ago. She shares her experience with the condition, known to cause infertility.

I was in high school when I started experiencing persistent abdominal pains. I was 16 and I had not had my monthly period yet. I could also feel a lump that was growing in my belly. I underwent a minor surgery to remove what the doctors found to be a blood clot in my abdomen.

After the surgery, I had my first period for seven days. Then, the doctors explained that it was normal to bleed for long after a surgery. But when it went for seven days the following month, I was worried. I received an injection to stop the bleeding. At that time, I went through counselling to accept that I had an irregular menstrual cycle.

My period became even more irregular in the months that followed. I would sometimes go for months without my period. It was tough not to be normal in high school. When other girls discussed their menses, I felt left out. I got to the habit of wearing a pad every day not knowing when I would have my period. Aside from the irregular bleeding and abdominal pains, life was normal.

But when I finished school and graduated from university in 2012, I wanted answers to my irregular period. I was tired of living without knowing what to expect. Once, I visited a gynaecologist who introduced me to family planning methods and asked me to go for different medication in case I wanted to conceive.

But it was in 2014 as I worked as a receptionist at a school in Nakuru that I was diagnosed with  Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Then, a scan revealed that I had cysts on my ovaries. I had missed my period for three months yet I wasn’t pregnant. That’s why I decided to go for scanning. At that point, I didn’t know anything about the disease and the doctor cared little to explain to me what it was. Most of what I know about the condition are things I have researched online and from experiences of other women in a support group I belong to.

I didn’t understand why I had the condition. I know being overweight is a risk factor but I have never weighed beyond 60 kilogrammes. But I asked around and learnt that my grandmother had high blood pressure though in very old age. I learnt blood pressure and other conditions such as diabetes increase the tendency to have PCOS where the condition runs in the family. But again, no one in my family was known to have PCOS.

It hasn’t been easy living with PCOS. One thing I have greatly battled is an oily skin. I am a fashion designer and a model and I can’t afford to have an oily skin. Once I wear make-up, my skin messes it up and I have to do it over and over again. This is compounded by the fact that Mombasa, where I set up my business is hot. Again, people with PCOS tend to experience a lot of fatigue. There are times that I just wake up feeling like a zombie. But after some exercises, I get back to my daily duties.

What has helped me manage the condition is physical exercises. I most especially like to do sit-ups every morning before I do anything else. This has helped a lot in stabilising my menstrual cycle. Also, my period lasts only one day.

I am grateful that I belong to a support group where we get a lot of encouragement from each other. We get to know the struggles of each other and share tips on managing the condition and holding up in a society that knows little about it.

I have heard stories of women who are rejected by their families because they can’t conceive. Others resort to witchcraft in their search of answers to their condition. Once, I was told at the hospital that my chances of conceiving were very minimal. I didn’t take this to heart. I know that I will get children if I want to. There are many options out there for people who want to conceive.

I encourage any woman experiencing abnormal menses to seek medical help. It is also good to talk about the experiences with close friends and receive advice.