On the latest episode of the Mail’s ‘The Life of Bryony’ podcast, BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty candidly discussed her battle with adenomyosis and expressed frustration with the dismissing of women’s pain by the healthcare system.
Ms Munchetty, 50, publicly revealed her diagnosis back in 2023, after years of having chronic pain mismanaged and misdiagnosed by doctors.
Adenomyosis is a relatively common condition where the uterine lining, shed during menstruation, grows into the muscle wall of the uterus, causing painful and prolonged periods.
The journalist recently released a book on the gender healthcare gap, chronicling her experience and the experience of hundreds of other women who feel their pain was disregarded or downplayed.
‘We are taught to normalise it,’ the presenter told Mail columnist Bryony Gordon.
She recalled other occasions on which she had cystitis and thrush but was accused by doctors of ‘having too much sex or not being hygienic enough’.
‘My mum and dad were nurses. I have a great respect for people in healthcare. I am not bashing anyone, it’s the system.
Ms Munchetty, 50, publicly revealed her adenomyosis diagnosis back in 2023, after years of having chronic pain mismanaged and misdiagnosed by doctors
‘I find the gatekeeping of medicines, contraceptives, and pain relief just astonishing. The rules that say women can only have pain relief if something is ‘really painful’: as if having your cervix opened with tweezers is not going to freaking hurt.’
Medical misogyny is a catchall term used to denote the unfair or prejudicial treatment of female patients.
This could include the lack of funding for treatments for female-specific health conditions; delayed diagnoses or a generally dismissive attitude towards the severity of symptoms caused by sexual and reproductive health issues.
Ms Munchetty recalled a night when a particularly bad flare-up of adenomyosis forced her husband to call an ambulance.
She was unable to walk or speak and kept feinting because of the intensity of the pain.
‘I was very scared that the pain was not going to stop’, Ms Munchetty said.
‘I didn’t know what to do. The doctor told me that the next time it happens, I should try taking a couple of paracetamol.
‘I was so angry that all I could say was: ‘Right, thanks.’
Naga Munchetty: ‘Why do you think there aren’t enough at the top of business? It’s because they’ve got too much sh*t to deal with that’s being ignored.’ Listen now
Ms Munchetty recently released a book on the gender pain gap titled ‘It’s Probably Nothing: Criticial Conversations on the Women’s Health Crisis’ Listen now
Based on her protracted journey to diagnosis, the BBC presenter offered Bryony some tips for confronting medical misogyny
Ms Munchetty instructed: ‘Know what’s wrong with you. I don’t mean a diagnosis but know what isn’t right.
‘When your life is being negatively impacted by something – write it down. Keep a diary.
‘Your specialist wants to help you. They love puzzles and coming to conclusions. But they can’t if it’s all so vague. Go in armed with as much information as you can give them.
‘Don’t be afraid to do your own research.’
In explaining her reasons for wanting to write the book, aptly named, ‘It’s Probably Nothing’, Ms Munchetty appealed for medical misogyny to be taken more seriously.
She declared: ‘If we’re not advocating for the women in our lives who are unable or too unwell to advocate for themselves, we are losing out on brilliant women in the workplace, brilliant mothers, daughters, and partners.
‘Why do you think there aren’t enough at the top of business? It’s because they’ve got too much sh*t to deal with that’s being ignored.’
To listen to the full, empowering interview with Naga Munchetty, listen to the latest Life of Bryony now, wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes are released every Monday and Friday.
