Stop Douching: A Conversation on Feminine Health, Mental Wellbeing and African Women

Silence can be deadly when it comes to women’s health, especially in communities where you’re taught to endure pain and keep private problems private. We sit down with Dr Ebunoluwa, a UK obstetrics and gynaecology doctor trained in Nigeria, to talk honestly about the health issues African women face worldwide and what changes when you finally get clear, practical information.

We go beyond vague advice and name the red flags: period pain that stops you living your life, heavy bleeding that soaks pads hourly, clots, bleeding between periods, and symptoms that could point to fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, or PCOS. We also get real about itching and “thrush”, why over-the-counter creams can miss the real cause, and what good vulval hygiene actually looks like. If you’ve ever been told to douche, or felt embarrassed to ask for help, this conversation gives you language you can use at the GP or in clinic.

We also tackle the stigma that keeps people stuck, from mental health to infertility. Dr Ebunoluwa reminds us that infertility is about the couple, not a woman’s “failure”, and shares ways to advocate for yourself, ask for a second opinion, and re-attend when your instincts tell you something is wrong. For anyone pregnant or planning a baby, we cover urgent warning signs like reduced fetal movements, bleeding, abdominal pain, persistent headaches, visual changes, and swelling, plus where to find trusted support and information. We close with a powerful reminder about cervical smear tests, HPV, and why early checks can prevent cervical cancer.

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