Millie Odhiambo reveals why her fibroids took 20 years to diagnose
By Valerian Khakayi, September 28, 2026Suba North Member of Parliament (MP) Millie Odhiambo has opened up about her long struggle with fibroids, revealing that it took more than 20 years before she was diagnosed after repeatedly seeking medical attention for severe period pain and heavy bleeding.
In a candid revelation issued on Monday, September 28, 2026, Millie said her menstrual problems began when she was still in her A levels, but repeated visits to hospitals in Kenya did not provide her with an explanation for the symptoms she was experiencing.
“It took more than 20 years for me to be diagnosed with fibromyalgia. And it was diagnosed in New York, not in Kenya. I was just like, why was it impossible to diagnose me as having fibroids in Kenya?” Millie said.
The vocal lawmaker recalled that she later received a scholarship to study at New York University, where she became seriously ill and was eventually diagnosed.
“I got a scholarship to go to New York University when I got very sick at New York University, and then they told me you have fibromyalgia,” she recalled.
Severe period pain
The politician said her menstrual pain was so severe that she was frequently admitted to hospital, with the condition affecting her daily life for years.
“I would be admitted to the hospital almost every single month because of period pains,” Millie revealed.
She said the problems began during her teenage years, but she struggled to get a clear diagnosis despite seeking medical care.
“I started having problems with my menses when I was in my A levels. Every time I went to the hospital, I was not told what the problem was,” she said.
Reflecting on the difficulties she experienced with her periods, Millie said she would have made a different choice had she understood what she would go through.
“If someone were to take me back to my teenagehood and tell me, ‘Do you want periods or not?’ “I would say I do not want it, regardless of the consequences,” she said.
Heavy bleeding affected her quality of life
The MP further said the heavy bleeding associated with her condition also left her anaemic and affected her ability to perform her daily activities.
“What I struggled with the most is because you have very heavy bleeding; I was always anaemic. It affected my output and my quality of life,” she said.
She expressed optimism about efforts to increase awareness of fibroids, particularly among young women, and welcomed the work of the Fibroids Awareness Foundation Kenya (FAF Kenya).
“I’m happy that we have FAF Kenya, the Fibroids Awareness Foundation, that now looks at the issue of fibroids awareness, and that will enable a lot of our young women to take intervention,” Odhiambo said.
Her experience highlights the difficulties some women can face when dealing with prolonged menstrual pain and heavy bleeding, particularly when the underlying cause is not identified early.