Nigerian media personality, Toke Makinwa, recently shared a deeply personal revelation about her health journey, disclosing that she underwent surgery to remove 13 fibroids from her body.
Makinwa made this revelation in response to the release of Stephanie Coker’s documentary titled “Where the Heck is My Period.” In her candid narration, Makinwa revealed that fibroids have been a prevalent issue affecting many women in her family, with some having to undergo the removal of their wombs due to this condition.
Reflecting on her own experience, Makinwa recalled growing up with telltale signs of fibroids, including a noticeably enlarged abdomen, irregular menstrual cycles, and a visible bulge when lying down. She also discussed the challenges of dealing with public scrutiny about her appearance, especially regarding questions about potential pregnancy.
“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.”