For nearly 18 years, Anna Wanjiru from Mombasa, Kenya, lived with unbearable menstrual pain. From the moment she started her periods as a teenager, every month became a nightmare. The cramps were so sharp and disabling that she would sometimes collapse or cry throughout the night.
She tried hospital treatments, injections, painkillers, home remedies, and even diets recommended by specialists—but nothing ever gave her lasting relief. At her job in Likoni, she missed work regularly, which affected her performance and confidence. At home, her family worried every month because the pain kept getting worse with age.
Some months Anna felt as if someone was squeezing her womb with force. Other months, the pain spread to her back and legs until she couldn’t even walk properly.
She started losing hope. She wondered if this would be her life forever—suffering silently, month after month, with no permanent solution.Get full story.
