In Conversation With Dr Success Bouangui obstetrician and gynecologist

August is Women’s Month in South Africa — a time to celebrate the resilience, courage, and achievements of women. But it’s also a moment to reflect on the challenges women continue to face, especially when it comes to their health. One area that often goes unnoticed is uterine health.
The uterus, or womb, plays a vital role in a woman’s reproductive system, yet conditions affecting it are frequently misunderstood, dismissed, or left untreated. Disorders such as fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and uterine cancer can have a devastating impact on women’s quality of life — causing heavy bleeding, chronic pain, anaemia, infertility, and in some cases, life-threatening complications.
Health experts warn that many women suffer in silence, normalising severe menstrual pain or abnormal bleeding because they believe it’s “just part of being a woman.” Others face barriers to diagnosis and treatment due to limited healthcare access, stigma, or lack of information.