By Nimotallahi Lola Ibraheem from PRESSHUB MEDIA AGENCY

Back in secondary school, our Yoruba teacher once asked us what “akiriboto” meant. None of us knew.

Then he added a line in Yoruba (Ẹ̀là ìlẹ̀kẹ̀ tí kò lójú àá tokùn bọ̀, tàbí Kání èlà ìlẹ̀kẹ̀ tí kò lójú awẹ́) and explained that akiriboto refers to a female without a vaginal opening.

We all laughed, thinking it was just a joke or something that didn’t really exist.

Years later, while studying health and medicine, I discovered that it is very real.

It is not just a slang word. It is a medical condition.

In medicine, it is called Imperforate Hymen.This is a congenital condition where the hymen, the thin membrane at the vaginal opening, has no opening at all.Because of this, menstrual blood cannot flow out of the body.

Some common signs include:

Absence of menstruation even after puberty.

Lower abdominal pain caused by trapped blood.

Swelling or pressure in the lower abdomen.

Pain or difficulty during attempted intercourse later in life.

Imperforate hymen is something a girl is born with.There is no way to prevent it.

But early detection is very important.

If a girl reaches puberty and does not start menstruating, she should be taken to a doctor for proper evaluation.

The good news is that the condition is treatable.

It is usually corrected with a minor surgical procedure that creates an opening for normal flow.

What we once laughed about in class turned out to be a real health issue that deserves awareness, not mockery.

Sometimes, education begins with curiosity. And awareness can save someone from years of silent suffering.