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| L-R Dr. Victor Ajayi; Dr. Odunukwe Nkiruka; Dr. Abayomi Ajayi; Mrs Tola Ajayi, Prof Bomi Ogedengbe, Dr. Robert Zurawin, and Monique Bonavita Bueno. |
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| Dr Robert Zurawin |
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| Prof Bomi Ogedengbe |
A renowned Paediatric & Adolescent Gynacology Surgeon, and
specialist of Minimally Invasive Gynaecology, Dr Robert Zurawin, has called for
increased knowledge and awareness of Nigerian doctors about Endometriosis.
Zurawin, who is Associate Professor at the Division of Gynaecology,
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, and MD, Texas Institute for Gynecologic Research & Education, as well as Specialist in Endometriosis,
fibroids, and alternate procedures to hysterectomy and urinary incontinence,
said doctors can only think of diagnosing Endometriosis if they are aware of
its existence.
Zurawin who shared his experience and expertise on the diagnosis
and treatment of endometriosis in adolescents, spoke during the 2017 Physicians’
Roundtable themed “Endometriosis In
Adolescents”, put together by the Endometriosis Support Group, Nigeria (ESGN).
The forum was designed to educate Nigerian medical doctors on the management
of the condition because of the difficulty associated with its diagnosis and treatment.
“The correct diagnosis is
important,” Zurawin stressed. “There was an old saying when I was in medical
school that you cannot diagnose Tuberculosis if you do not think that
tuberculosis exists. You have to know that it exists, and the same thing goes
for Endometriosis.
“Doctors need to think Endometriosis in order to diagnose it.
Doctors have to be educated to think of Endometriosis as a diagnosis.”
He urged mothers of young teenagers and other young women to get
educated.
“They should be aware of the common signs and symptoms of
Endometriosis such as painful periods that do not respond to common relievers, and
seek counseling early.
“Endometriosis is a worldwide condition and it has to do with
knowledge and understanding to make positive diagnosis. The awareness of the
physician is as important as that of the patient. I have seen patients get over-treated
with too much surgery for this condition.”
He said the government has a role to play in providing the right environment
for correct diagnosis and treatment of the disorder, noting that government could
sponsor healthcare programmes that would provide the right awareness.
In her contribution, Chairman of the forum and the first indigenous
female Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in West Africa, Dr. Bomi
Ogedengbe, lamented the high incidence of the disorder among adolescents. Ogedengbe
who is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the College of Medicine,
University of Lagos, CMUL, said although endometriosis had existed for many
years, it was not until around three or four decades ago before gynaecologists became
aware of its existence.
“Now we have come to realize that it exists and we know it causes a
lot of distress especially pain and from the issue of pain we are accessing
adolescents that are having pain monthly or generally. The pain disrupts their
lives, studies and social engagement.
“The other aspect is that of fertility. As you know in our culture,
every woman wants to be a mother. It is very important to be a mother and the
fact that endometriosis largely prevents conception is an issue of
significance.”
Speaking about making a correct diagnosis of the disorder, Ogedebgbe
said the first thing that needs to be done is a laparoscopy.
“In the developed world, having a laparoscopy is like having a
routine chest x-ray, but that is not the case here. However, we must have this
technology, use it and train the upcoming residents to also recognize and use
it.
“Nowadays we produce most of our specialists here in the west
Africa sub-region and most of them are Nigerians. They need to have hands-on
training in laparoscopy. To do this, we need the theatres, equipment, monitors,
staff, etc. It’s the way forward.”
Founder and Spokesperson for the Endometriosis Support Group,
Nigeria, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, said the Physicians Roundtable was an ideal forum to
sensitise doctors and draw their attention to the disorder.
Ajayi, who is Medical Director/CEO, Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos, Abuja and Asaba, noted: “It’s easier when you bring the people who have the same interests
so you can communicate with them. We know it is the doctors that see the
patient sand unless these doctors are able to think of Endometriosis, the
diagnosis will be missed and the patient will continue to suffer.
“We are drawing attention to the fact that endometriosis starts in
adolescence and when you begin treating it early, there is possibility of
preventing the complications women are subjected to in later life.”
Ajayi said medical doctors in Nigeria are not where they
ought to be in terms of endometriosis diagnosis and treatment.
“We know that if a woman has endometriosis, she can store her eggs.
This is part of the new discoveries, but what we are trying to push out is that
the diagnosis should be made early so that the woman knows what she is up
against.
“It is only when the diagnosis is made that the patient can be open
to the options. We are taking the campaign to the secondary schools and
categorizing each group accordingly.”
