Nigerian Graduate Seeks Help for Surgery After Living Years Without Vaginal Opening

Nigerian Graduate Seeks Help for Surgery After Living Years Without Vaginal Opening

A 31-year-old Nigerian graduate, Alade Omowumi, has appealed to Nigerians for financial assistance to undergo further surgery for a congenital reproductive condition that has affected her health and personal life for years.

Omowumi, a Guidance and Counselling graduate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State, said she had endured years of abdominal pain, repeated medical procedures and complications while seeking treatment for a condition that prevented her from menstruating normally.

Speaking in an interview with Saturday PUNCH, the graduate explained that she discovered something was wrong with her reproductive health when she was 15.

According to her, she experienced severe abdominal pain lasting four to five days every month, but her menstrual period never appeared.

She endured the recurring pain for approximately three years before seeking medical attention.

When she eventually visited a hospital, doctors reportedly explained that menstrual blood was accumulating inside her body because it could not flow out normally.

At 18, she underwent medical examinations in preparation for surgery. However, the doctors discovered that her vaginal canal was absent, a finding that prevented them from proceeding with the operation as initially planned.

She was subsequently scheduled for another procedure to create a vaginal opening.

The surgery, performed on October 2, 2014, created an opening, but Omowumi said it later became too narrow to allow sexual penetration.

She attributed the difficulty to her inability to use a prescribed vaginal dilator because of the severe pain she experienced after the operation.

The graduate also developed urinary complications following the procedure.

She said she began experiencing involuntary urine leakage after doctors removed a catheter, a problem she had not experienced before the surgery.

Her recovery was further complicated by persistent pain and difficulties following the recommended vaginal dilation procedure.

As hospital bills continued to accumulate, her mother eventually requested her discharge, and she left with a urine collection bag.

Omowumi said the surgery did not resolve her menstrual problem. Although menstrual blood occasionally appeared for a few months, the flow eventually stopped.

She explained that the blood continued accumulating internally, causing her abdomen to swell. On several occasions, medical personnel had to drain the accumulated blood.

The experience left her afraid of undergoing another procedure at the same hospital, particularly because she was dissatisfied with the outcome of the earlier surgery.

She said the condition had persisted for approximately 14 to 15 years.

Graduate Undergoes Another Surgery

Seeking a lasting solution, Omowumi later visited another hospital, where doctors reportedly recommended further surgery to address her urinary complications and create a functional vaginal opening.

She explained that the treatment would have to be carried out in stages because of the complications associated with her previous operation.

In September 2026, she underwent another surgery aimed at addressing her urinary problem.

However, doctors advised her to allow the operated area to heal before proceeding with the next stage of treatment.

The outstanding procedure is intended to address her absent or narrowed vaginal canal and help restore normal menstrual flow, according to her account.

She said she had not received a definite estimate for the next surgery because the procedure would take place after her recovery and further medical assessments.

Omowumi added that the cost could change before the treatment begins, making it difficult to determine the exact amount she would need.

Mother Provides Support Amid Years of Struggle

The graduate described her mother as her strongest source of support throughout the ordeal, particularly following the death of her father.

She said she had kept her medical condition private for years because discussing such an intimate matter was difficult.

However, the prolonged suffering eventually pushed her to speak publicly and seek assistance.

Omowumi also revealed that she had experienced painful reactions from some members of the public since her story became known.

She said hurtful comments had affected her emotionally and made her reluctant to leave home.

Despite the criticism, she maintained that speaking out was necessary because she could no longer continue struggling in silence.

Some of her longtime friends were reportedly surprised when they learnt about her condition, having known her for several years without realising what she was experiencing.

She said several friends expressed sympathy and encouraged her after learning about her circumstances.

Appeals to Nigerians for Financial Assistance

Omowumi disclosed that a foundation had previously supported her treatment and provided her with the remaining N500,000 after her most recent surgery.

However, she said the money was intended to cover post-operative care and would not necessarily be sufficient for the outstanding procedure.

With no confirmed estimate for the next surgery and limited recent contributions, she is appealing to individuals and organisations for financial assistance.

She said her greatest wish was to receive the necessary treatment, get married and have children of her own.

“I want to live a normal life, get married and have children of my own,” she said, appealing to Nigerians to support her financially and remember her in their prayers.

Omowumi expressed hope that with appropriate medical care and financial assistance, she would be able to overcome the challenges that had shaped much of her adult life and pursue her dreams for the future.