Sarah Nakintu - Why I Launched a Women's Health Newsletter

I recently posted a life update announcing the birth of our baby after six years via a Gestational Surrogate. In this post, I will share more about our journey and why I launched this Newsletter.

I remember feeling a lot of fear and pressure about getting pregnant at a young age because it was strongly discouraged in the strict religious and cultural environment I grew up in. I had limited information about women's health, and there was a lot of confusion about reproductive health and sexual health. Learning about sexual health was discouraged because it was assumed that it would lead to promiscuity. As I entered my thirties, I realized that I was quite unaware and naive about my health. I assumed that getting pregnant would be easy. Still, I later learned that many women I knew had faced difficulties in getting pregnant or maintaining a healthy pregnancy, although this was never openly discussed.

After experiencing severe menstrual symptoms, I sought medical advice and was diagnosed with fibroids and adenomyosis, which were believed to be affecting my ability to conceive. I realized for the first time that my strict upbringing had prevented me from understanding my body and reproductive health. It never occurred to me that I would have difficulties having a baby, and I had not been proactive in seeking solutions for my painful period symptoms or making plans for having a baby later, such as egg freezing. It was only after visiting a fertility doctor that I learned that periods are not supposed to be painful. Throughout my life, none of the gynecologists I visited had mentioned this. As a result, I normalized the pain associated with being a woman. By the time I sought help for my period pain, it was so severe, and the bleeding was so heavy that I needed to take a day off each month on the second day of my period.

Here’s my message:

If you're experiencing physical discomfort, such as painful periods, heavy bleeding, hot flashes, extreme tiredness, dizziness, or any other unusual symptoms, it's important to consider seeking medical attention. Finding a reliable gynecologist can be challenging. It's not unusual to visit several doctors before finding one who is willing to investigate further, authorize medical scans, and take our pain seriously. The best way to find a good doctor is to ask friends for recommendations and have them introduce you to a dependable practitioner.

I have said that it's been nerve-wracking, sometimes heartbreaking, and traumatic to talk about my experience. Still, for so long, I suffered in silence and was embarrassed to admit that I was facing infertility. I blamed myself and my body for not doing what I perceived as something it was meant to do. I also worried about my community’s support and perceptions. Sometimes, it felt like I was walking the journey alone, but when I opened up, I realized many people go through this; it's just not openly discussed. I struggled to find people who had done surrogacy and could talk to me about what it was like. There's a lot of silence and shame when it comes to women's health; some people in my family and community have even advised me not to open up about having a child via surrogate, like it's something I should be ashamed of or embarrassed by.

After I shared my journey on Instagram, many women and men thanked me for being open and speaking about my journey. Many opened up about their struggles, while others asked for tools and resources. I launched this Newsletter to create a safe space and a community for supporting anyone who wishes to discuss women's health.

Today, we are overjoyed to finally hold our baby in our arms, a testament to the hope and happiness that surrogacy can bring. We are grateful for this gift and your support and interest in joining me. Each month, you will hear from me and others about various topics. We will provide resources, a voice, and a community for anyone who needs them.

Do you know someone who would benefit from this Newsletter? Please invite them using this link. Your support in spreading the word about our community is invaluable. If you have any feedback or topics of interest, please leave comments or respond to this Newsletter via email. I would love to hear from you.

Please move this newsletter from the Promotions folder to your primary inbox by dragging and dropping it into the primary tab to ensure you receive it.

Stay tuned for our next edition; I look forward to learning and growing together!