Chef Amaka, wife of popular Nigerian medical content creator Aproko Doctor (Dr. Chinonso Egemba), has opened up about her battle with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and the emotional toll of online trolls mocking her husband over their childlessness. In a recent interview, she revealed that her menstrual cycle stopped just three months after their wedding in June 2020, leading to a PCOS diagnosis that has affected her fertility and sparked hurtful comments online.
PCOS diagnosis and physical changes
Chef Amaka explained that she first suspected something was wrong when she noticed significant weight gain and a broader upper-body frame. A hospital visit confirmed PCOS, a hormonal condition that affects ovulation and fertility. PCOS is the most common gynecological endocrine disorder among women of reproductive age globally, affecting between 4% and 20% of women worldwide. In Nigeria, studies estimate its prevalence at 13% to 18% among women of reproductive age, though many cases go undetected due to limited awareness and delayed diagnosis.
Impact of online trolling
The condition has also made Chef Amaka a target of online abuse. She described how her body changes, appearing visibly larger than her husband in photographs, have led to trolls calling her the "man of the house" and mocking Aproko Doctor for not fathering a child. Some trolls even suggested she physically assaults her husband because she appears bigger. The mockery directed at her husband has been the hardest part.
"One of the things that has brought tears to my eyes is seeing my husband being mocked by trolls for not being able to father a child," she said. She added that the comments cut deeper because they stem from a condition she is already fighting privately. "What made me cry was when they said my husband is not man enough to father a child. In my head, I felt it must be my fault because I am unable to conceive."
Public support and awareness
Aproko Doctor has built one of Nigeria's most recognized health education platforms, using social media to simplify complex medical information. His wife's decision to speak openly about PCOS adds a personal dimension to a condition he has previously addressed in his public health content. Chef Amaka has not disclosed her current treatment or fertility support, but her openness has drawn significant online support, with many women sharing similar diagnoses.
Her story has sparked conversations about PCOS, a condition strongly linked to anovulation—the absence of ovulation—which directly disrupts a woman's ability to conceive. By sharing her experience, Chef Amaka aims to raise awareness and reduce stigma around fertility struggles in Nigeria.
