As March marks Endometriosis Awareness Month, attention is being drawn to a medical condition that continues to affect millions of women globally but remains largely misunderstood and stigmatized. At the forefront of advocacy in Nigeria is Olabimpe Fapohunda, founder of the Endometriosis and Adenomyosis Foundation (EAF), whose personal journey with the condition has become a powerful force for change.
For 16 years, Fapohunda endured the debilitating symptoms of endometriosis without a clear diagnosis. Like many women living with the condition, she battled chronic pelvic pain, severe menstrual cramps, and other distressing symptoms that disrupted her daily life. It was not until she finally received a proper diagnosis that her understanding of her health and her purpose changed.
“Getting diagnosed was both heartbreaking and liberating,” she has often shared in her advocacy engagements. “It validated my pain and gave a name to what I had been going through for years.”
Endometriosis is a chronic medical condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, leading to pain, inflammation, and in some cases infertility. Despite its prevalence, awareness remains low, and misconceptions about menstrual pain often prevent early detection and proper treatment.
Fapohunda believes that awareness is the cornerstone of support for those living with the condition. According to her, without widespread education and understanding, it is difficult to expect empathy from society.
“People are quick to dismiss menstrual pain as normal,” she explains. “But for someone with endometriosis, it is far from normal. It can be physically and emotionally exhausting.”
She notes that poor awareness does not only affect patients medically but also socially and emotionally. “Relationships, especially marriages, can suffer when partners misunderstand the severity of symptoms. Some spouses may perceive the pain as exaggerated or interpret fatigue and reduced physical intimacy as a lack of commitment. These misconceptions can create emotional distance, resentment, and in extreme cases, the breakdown of relationships.”
Fapohunda stresses that education can bridge this gap. She encourages couples to have open conversations about endometriosis and its impact, emphasizing that informed partners are more likely to provide meaningful support.
Through the Endometriosis and Adenomyosis Foundation, Fapohunda has spearheaded workshops, seminars, and community outreach initiatives aimed at demystifying the condition. The foundation works not only with patients but also with healthcare professionals to promote early diagnosis and improved treatment pathways.
Community engagement remains central to the foundation’s mission. By organizing awareness campaigns during March and throughout the year, EAF seeks to empower women with knowledge about symptoms and encourage them to seek medical evaluation when necessary. The foundation also advocates for better training among healthcare providers to reduce misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis.
Beyond individual support, Fapohunda is drawing attention to a broader systemic challenge the absence of comprehensive government policies that address the needs of individuals living with endometriosis. She argues that increased awareness can serve as a catalyst for policy reform, including improved healthcare funding, insurance coverage for treatment, workplace accommodations, and investment in research.
