Naga Munchetty on fears having to ‘keep mouth shut’ after battle
Naga Munchetty spoke candidly in a new interview about her ongoing battle after being diagnosed with adenomyosis at the age of 47. The BBC Breakfast presenter, now 50, has been vocal about her ongoing health woes amid the release of her new book, It’s Probably Nothing, which shines a light on women’s health. The broadcaster, who also hosts a section on her radio show That Time of the Month, tackle women’s health issues that are often dismissed as normal.
Speaking to Radio Times, Naga shared: “My hope is that, if we’re talking about it on national radio where parents, partners and children can hear it, it can’t be taboo. Both on radio and for my book, the reason people have spoken to me is, they don’t want someone else going through what they have. It’s a platform to say, ‘I’ve been told to keep my mouth shut and put up with it. But I don’t have to.'”
Naga has drawn on her own experience after being ignored, undiagnosed and misdiagnosed before eventually being made aware she had adenomyosis.
It is a condition where the lining of the womb (uterus) starts growing into the muscle in the wall of the womb. There are treatments that can help with any symptoms.
Adenomyosis is more commonly diagnosed in women over the age of 30. It can affect anyone who has periods and symptoms often include heavy and painful periods, pelvic pain, pain during sex and bloating, according to the NHS.
“I started my periods aged 15 and from day one they were painful, heavy and exhausting. I would faint, throw up, have to sleep on a towel, and they happened every three weeks for ten days,” she explained.
“I didn’t talk to friends about them – the whole narrative around periods when I was younger was that they were dirty and unhygienic. Doctors told me that they would be more manageable and improve when I got older, or when I had a baby.”
After undergoing various treatments at the age of 47, Naga was officially diagnosed after waiting three decades and having bled for 35 days consecutively.
You can read the full interview in this week’s Radio Times out now
