Features
Managing excruciating pain during ovulation and menstruation
This is a subject area I am not well vexed in because I am not a gynaecologist, neither am I a medical expert or a trained nurse who deals in issues related to women’s health. I am only a simple and common journalist, but with curious and inquisitive mindset who always wants to probe into issues involving all spheres of national life. It can be politics, education, agriculture, sports, corruption, graft, family planning, mining, forestry, oil and gas extraction among other subject areas of the economy, that need to be highlighted for the benefit of the entire citizenry. Therefore, the medical experts, should pardon me if I am not able to delve deep into the subject area, I have chosen to write on.
RESEARCH INTO
UNFAMILIAR AREAS
Many of my readers and patrons will ask me this vital question; You have admitted that you are not familiar with the subject area you have chosen to write on, why then, do you have to waste your time and energy to thread on that path? They, may be rightly so in asking me that question, but as a trained journalist, you have to muddy through the waters and research into unfamiliar areas and present the facts as they should in your write-ups.
My interest in this very topic, “Pains during ovulation and menstruation” was premised on the ground that I recently visited a male friend of mine, (the location of which I will not disclose in this article) whose wife was experiencing severe and excruciating pain in the abdomen at the time of my visit. Realising the condition of the woman and being so inquisitive, I decided to engage my friend (her husband) in a short conversation about what was going on with regards to pain by the lady. It was in our conversation that he told me point blank that, it was a regular monthly feature for her during her ovulation and menstruation. I felt bad for both of them. I lost my wife so many years back and even when she was alive, I did not witness such a situation from her.
BAD AND PAINFUL EXPERIENCE
The bad experience I witnessed from my friend wife’s condition, compelled me to delve into that subject area by doing a bit of research work to establish the causes of pains during ovulation and menstruation among women and probably the antidote.
To the lay man or woman on the street, menstruation or what is commonly referred to as period, is the bleeding that occurs after ovulation, if you don’t get pregnant. During menstruation, blood mucus and tissue flow out of the cervix and vagina each month. Ovulation, on the other hand is when the egg is released from your ovaries to be fertilized. In an average, 28-day menstrual cycle, ovulation typically occurs about 14 days before the start of next menstrual period.
LUTEAL PHASE OF MENSTRUATION
The luteal phase of the menstrual cycle starts when the eggs have been released during ovulation, so around 14 days before your period starts, the eggs leaves behind its shell which starts to produce progesterone to hold the lining of the uterus mature. In the medical world, menstruation happens when an egg that is released from your ovary is not fertilized, so the uterus sheds its lining. In view of this, you cannot technically menstruate without ovulating. However, you can still bleed and experience your period without ovulating.
Your menstrual cycle begins on the first day of your period and continues up to the first day of your next period. You are most fertile at the time of ovulation which usually occurs 12 to 14 days before your next period starts. A girl can get pregnant during her period. This might happen when a girl has bleeding that she thinks is a period, but it is bleeding from ovulation. A woman’s ovulation cycles can vary so it is statistically possible, she can become pregnant while on her period. While pregnancy is less likely in the earlier days of her period, the chances increase in the later days.
ONE-SIDED PAIN IN LOWER ABDOMEN
Some women get one-sided pain in their lower abdomen when they ovulate. It happens about 14 days before your period, when an ovary releases an egg as part of the menstrual cycle. Once ovulation occurs, your eggs travel through your fallopian tube and it is in your tube that your eggs meet the sperm for fertilization. If conception occurs, the fertilized egg travels down your uterus.
During your menstrual period, your uterus contracts to help expel the lining. Hormone-like substances (prostaglandins) involved in pain and inflammation trigger the uterine muscle contractions. Higher levels of prostaglandins are associated with more severe menstrual cramps. Having painful period is a condition called dysmenorrhea. It is the most commonly reported menstrual disorder.
More than half of menstruating women report pain. While painful periods themselves may not be linked to fertility issues, some of the causes behind the pain are associated with infertility. Some of these conditions can get worse over time which is why getting diagnosed and treated early is important.
CONDITIONS THAT
CAUSE PAIN
Conditions that cause abdominal pain during menstruation and also impact negatively on fertility include endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts and pelvic inflammatory diseases. It appears that not all women experience pain during menstrual periods, some may have theirs easy and smooth sailing while that of others can be unbearable.
Like I stated earlier, I am not an expert in that field and therefore, I cannot say much about the subject but at least my little research on the subject will be of interest to my readers and patrons, especially women, more importantly the adolescent girls who may not understand the causes of this painful menstruation.
TEACHING OF HEALTH SCIENCE IN BASIC SCHOOLS
I will advocate the infusion of this particular subject area in the curricula from the Junior to Senior high schools, so that the female child is kept abreast of issues relating to the emergence of pregnancy from infancy to adulthood in order to avoid lifestyles that will inhibit their future and progression.
We need to intensify the teaching of health-related issues in our educational institutions especially at the lower level as it is done in the case of health and applied science in our tertiary institutions because children in their formative years, can pick up easily on what they are taught as they progress to the higher level in their education.
We have to use textbooks or open discussions to create awareness about menarche. Social support includes, providing moral support to girls and spreading knowledge to other sectors of the population so that menstruating girls are not treated as outcasts. Giving the multiple challenges women and adolescent girls face, it is evident that promoting menstrual hygiene management is not only a sanitation matter. It is also an important step towards safeguarding the dignity, bodily integrity and overall life opportunities of women and girls.
MENSTRUAL HEALTH MANAGEMENT
Menstrual health management is a critical component of reproductive health and an important entry point for adolescent sexual reproductive health programming. Factual information on mental health management and puberty is part of the school curriculum and the capacities of teachers are built to teach these issues with comfort.
There is the need for us as a country to intensify and highlight the importance of good menstrual hygiene on May 28 each year, a day designated as Menstrual Hygiene Day which is celebrated across the world.
Contact email/WhatsApp of author:
ataani2000@yahoo.com 0277753946/0248933366
By Charles Neequaye
When Abigail Fremah steps up to the Armwrestling table, the noise fades, the tension settles, and order takes over.
Despite a calm, but firm and meticulous disposition, she has become one of the quiet forces shaping Ghana’s growing reputation in the sport, not as an athlete, but a referee trusted on the continental stage.
Abigail’s journey into Armwrestling did not begin at the table. Like many Ghanaian sports enthusiasts, she grew up playing several disciplines. Football was her first love, but she also featured in volleyball and basketball during her school years. Sports, she says, was simply a way of life not just for her.
“It runs through the family. All my siblings are into sports,” she stated.
“I was involved in almost every sport in school, football, volleyball, netball, hockey; I did everything,” she recalls.
Her academic background in Health, Physical Education and Recreation laid a solid foundation for her sporting career. While on scholarship at the university (University of Cape Coast), she often used her modest budget to support young athletes, sometimes sharing skills and even T-shirts at programmes she attended. Giving back, she explains, has always been part of her motivation.
However, as she matured as an athlete, Abigail made a critical self-assessment.
“Armwrestling involves a lot of strength,” she admits. “Looking at my body type, I realised I couldn’t fit properly as a competitive athlete.”
That moment of honesty pushed her to a different trajectory but equally important path in sports; which is officiating.
During her National Service, she was encouraged by Mr Charles Osei Asibey, the President of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation (GAF), to consider officiating. He introduced her to a technical official, Mr Hussein Akuerteh Addy, who formally took her through the basics of Armwrestling officiating in 2021.
“I started as a case official,” she says. “We moved from region to region every week, officiating competitions. That’s where it all began.”
By 2022, Abigail was actively involved in national assignments, though she missed the African Championship that year. Her breakthrough came in 2023, when Ghana hosted the African Armwrestling Championship.
It was her first experience officiating at a major international competition and it changed everything.
“That was my first national and international exposure at the same time,” she says. “It really opened my eyes.”
Today, Abigail is a World Junior Armwrestling Referee, a status earned through performance, consistency and discipline. She explains that progression in officiating was not automatic.
“It’s all about performance, your appearance at African Championships, your conduct, how you handle pressure; that’s what takes you to the world level,” she stressed.
As a referee, Abigail’s priority is safety and fairness. Armwrestling, she notes, comes with risks, particularly injuries to the wrists, elbows, shoulders and arms.
“If athletes don’t follow the rules or refuse to listen to officials, injuries can happen,” she explains, adding that focus was everything.
Before every match, she ensures that all equipment which includes elbow pads, hand pegs and table alignment were properly set. Athletes are not allowed to cover their elbows, must grip correctly, and must follow the referee’s commands precisely.
“We make sure everything is fixed before the grip,” she says. “Once we say ‘Ready… Go’, there should be no confusion.”
She is also firm on discipline. Warnings are issued for infractions, and repeated misconduct attracts penalties.
“The referee must be respected, if you don’t listen, the rules will deal with you,” she says.
Abigail credits her confidence partly to her sporting family background. Her mother was a volleyball player, while other family members also participated in sports. Though they were initially concerned about her safety, her rise to the top reassured them.
“They were afraid at first,” she admits. “But they were also very proud, especially because some of them never got the opportunity to reach this level.”
Looking ahead, Abigail is optimistic about the future of Armwrestling in Ghana. In less than a decade, the country has produced African and world-level medalists, a sign, she believes, of great things to come for Ghana.
“Whenever we go out, we come back with medals such as gold and silver,” she says, and to her that was a sign of growth.
In the next five to ten years, Abigail sees herself rising to become a World Master Referee, the highest officiating level in the sport. Until then, her routine remains intense, training four times a week, working closely with athletes, standing on her feet for hours, and constantly refining her understanding of the rules.
“I love this sport,” she says simply. “That love is what keeps me going.”
Abigail encouraged women to be bold and intentional about their place in sports saying “don’t limit yourself because of fear or stereotypes.”
She also urged women to invest in learning, discipline and consistency, stressing that respect was earned through performance.
For Abigail, as Ghana’s armwrestlers continue to make their mark, she will remain where she is most effective at the table, ensuring the game is played right.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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As he had promised Aperkeh, the elderly man and his wife and three daughters stopped by Aperkeh’s parents’ house. Mr Amando and his family were preparing to settle in for the night.
“Brother Ben and family”, Mr Joshua Amando said warmly, “although I know you are here on a matter that can hardly be described as joyous, it is still good to see you. You are welcome. Please sit down while I bring you water”.
“Yes, we will take water, even though we are hardly thirsty, because this is our home”.
“Okay, Ben”, he started after they had drank, “Let me go straight to the point. My daughter Priscilla has told me about the goings on between her brother Aperkeh and our daughter Stella.
Before informing me, Priscilla had expressed concern to Aperkeh about some habits he is adopting, especially the late nights and the drinking. She tells me that one Saturday morning, she was there when Stella complained about his drinking and some girls who had come to the house to look for him, and he assaulted her.
I called him and complained, but all he could say was that I don’t know what caused him to react that way, so I could not judge him. Now he does not answer my calls.
I have sent Priscilla to his house to call him, but he has refused to come. Unfortunately, Ben, my son is a much different person than the young boy who completed university and started work at the bank. I am really embarrassed about his treatment of Stella”.
“Joshua, let me assure you that even though what is happening is very unfortunate, it will not affect our relationship.
We have been friends since childhood, and I thought that with their parents’ blessing, the relationship between Aperkeh and Stella would grow to become a blessing to all of us. But there appears to be a real challenge now.
Stella thinks that Aperkeh wants her out of his house, and indeed Aperkeh himself told me that, about an hour ago.
So I’m taking my daughter home. I suggest that you do what you can to straighten him out, but if it does not work out, let’s accept the situation and continue to be one family.
I am sure that being the well behaved girl that she is, Stella will meet a young man who will cherish her. Fortunately, this problem is happening early in the day, so they can sort things out if possible, or move on with their lives if they are unable to stay together”.
“I’m really grateful for that, Ben. I will do my best in the next few days to reason with him, because apart from the relationship with Stella, Aperkeh is risking his job and career with this lifestyle.
A good job and salary offers an opportunity to gather momentum in life, not to destroy yourself”.
“Okay Brother Joshua. We will say goodnight. I hope to hear positive news from you”.
As he descended in the lift from the fourth to the ground floor, Aperkeh wondered who would be waiting at the reception to see him at nine on Monday morning. He had spent good time with both of his new girls during the weekend, so it had to be someone else. He got out of the lift and pulled a face when he saw Priscilla.
“Priscilla”, he said as he sat down by her, “what do you want here? You know Monday morning is a busy time at the bank. I am a very busy person, so say what you want, I have work to do”.
“You are very funny, Aperkeh. You are telling me, your sister, that you have work to do, so I should hurry up? Okay, Dad says I should advise you to come home tonight, because he wants to discuss the issue of Stella with you. He sent me to you twice, and you did not come.
He has tried to call you quite a number of times, but you have refused to answer his calls. He says that if you do not come tonight, you will be very surprised at what he will do. He says you will not like it at all, so better come.
“What is all this? Why won’t you people leave me alone? Stella is very disrespectful. I told her that if she wanted to continue to live in my house, she must obey me. It is that simple.
She chose to continue ordering me about, controlling me in my own house, so I told her that if she could not live under my conditions she should leave. And she left. In fact, her own father came and took her away. So what again?’’
“How did she disobey or control you? Was she complaining about your continuous drinking and late nights? And did you slap her on several occasions because of that? Did you tell her that if she could not live under your conditions she should leave? You actually said that to her father? You have forgotten that before she came to live with you, our two parents met and agreed, and gave it their blessing?’
“Why don’t you leave, Priscilla? I don’t have to listen to all that”. “Okay, I will go. Your father who gave birth to you and educated you to university level sends me to you, and you ask me to leave? I wish you would defy him, and refuse to come home as he’s telling you, because he is planning to give you the discipline you badly need. Let me tell you. Stella is such a beautiful and decent girl, and I assure you that someone will grab her before you say Jack. You are only 30 years old, and you have already become a drunkard”.
As he walked towards the lift, Aperkeh decided on what to do. He would go home, and calmly listen to what his father had to say. The old man was very unpredictable, and he wouldn’t dare ignore him. So he would take all the insults and threats, but as for Stella she was history. According to Priscilla, Stella was beautiful and all that, but she had not seen the two curvaceous princesses who were all over him, ready to do anything he asked. And these were not barely literate waakye girls, but university graduates from wealthy homes, really classy girls. With stuff like that, who needs a waakye girl? He smiled as he took his seat.
A few minutes to five, Aperkeh was packing up to leave for home to meet his dad when his phone rang. It was Priscilla.
“Aperkeh, Dad says you don’t need to bother to come. Stella’s dad says she came to him early this morning to plead that she would rather stay at home than return to your house. She thinks you are already decided to be rid of her, and she does not want to risk being assaulted again. So it’s done. You can go ahead and enjoy the nice life you have started”.
Before he could tell her to go to hell, Priscilla hanged up the line. He was partially stung that his dad had virtually cut him off. The last thing anyone would want was to fall out of relationship with his own family, which had always supported him.
But the truth was he was no longer interested in Stella. What was wrong with going by one’s feelings? He could only hope that one day, his parents and sister would try to reason with him.
By Ekow de Heer
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