Janet Mbugua opens up about worsening period pain in her 40s
By Ascah Mwango, July 17, 2026Celebrated media personality and women’s health advocate Janet Mbugua has opened up about her recent struggles with severe reproductive health issues, revealing that her menstrual cycle continues to deeply affect her well-being well into her 40s.
Speaking candidly in a video uploaded to her Instagram account on Friday, July 17, 2026, the former news anchor bared her soul to her followers, detailing how recent hormonal shifts have brought about a debilitating resurgence of pain, fatigue, and emotional distress.
Mbugua, who has been a vocal champion for menstrual health awareness across Africa, admitted that despite her extensive experience navigating reproductive health challenges, her body’s recent changes have been incredibly grounding.
In the emotionally raw video update, Mbugua did not shy away from the harsh realities of managing her cycle at this stage of her life, noting that age has not made the symptoms any easier to handle.
“In my big age, my periods will still humble me,” Mbugua told her followers.
“Like the fatigue, the mood swings, the pain… my period pain has become so bad I literally had to see a gynaecologist on Friday and we are figuring out a treatment plan,” she added.
The media star revealed that she spent the day undergoing a comprehensive series of medical evaluations to pinpoint the exact cause of the sudden flare-up, including a pelvic ultrasound and her annual Pap smear.
“Did my paps here, which I do every year,” she added, gesturing to the reality of the medical procedures.
“It doesn’t get any more comfortable. I thought I would figure it out in my big age… no. In my 40s, the pain, the fatigue… we are not doing this at the tail-end of my period journey.”
Battle with endometriosis
For Mbugua, the sudden escalation of symptoms is deeply tied to a chronic condition she has battled for decades.
She reminded her audience that she has lived with endometriosis, a painful disorder where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of it, virtually since her menstrual journey began as a teenager.
Showing a few visible breakouts on her skin, she playfully questioned the hormonal shifts, asking, “So I think in a couple of weeks… I have lived with endometriosis, literally since I started my periods, so what are these [pointing at pimples on her chin]?”
Rather than suffering in silence, Mbugua explained that she chose to view the sudden influx of severe symptoms as a direct distress signal from her own body—one that required immediate, expert medical attention.
“But I get it, it’s like my body talking to me, my hormonal changes, everything. I tried to listen and be like, ‘Okay, you are trying to tell me something. You are trying to tell me let’s go see a gynae, let’s get a paps, let’s do an ultrasound.’ So I think in a couple of weeks, we’ll have more answers,” she concluded reflectively.
By sharing her raw, unedited medical journey, Janet Mbugua continues to break down the intense societal stigmas surrounding menstruation, encouraging women of all ages to prioritise their reproductive health and never minimise severe pain.