Chef Amaka, the wife of popular Nigerian medical doctor and health content creator Chinonso Egemba, widely known as Aproko Doctor, has shared her emotional journey of living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), revealing how the condition affected her physical appearance, fertility journey and mental well-being.
Speaking in a video interview shared on her Instagram page, Chef Amaka recounted that she was diagnosed with PCOS just three months after marrying her husband in June.
According to her, she became concerned after missing her menstrual period shortly after the wedding and sought medical attention, where doctors confirmed the diagnosis.
“When I was diagnosed with PCOS, I had just gotten married to my husband in June. Three months into the marriage, I didn’t see my period, so I went to the hospital and they told me I had PCOS,” she said.
She explained that the hormonal condition led to noticeable physical changes, including weight gain and a broader upper-body build, making her the target of harsh comments on social media.
“I started having an upper-body structure and I started adding weight. When my husband and I stood together, I always looked way older,” she recalled.
Chef Amaka said the online criticism became increasingly personal, with some social media users mocking her appearance and making hurtful assumptions about her marriage.
“I was trolled that I am the man of the house, that I beat my husband,” she said.
However, she revealed that the most painful comments were those questioning her husband’s masculinity and linking their inability to conceive at the time to him.
“What made me cry was when they said my husband was not man enough to father a child. In my head, I was like, ‘All these because I haven’t conceived?'”
Her disclosure has sparked conversations on social media about infertility, body shaming and the stigma surrounding PCOS, a hormonal disorder that affects many women of reproductive age. According to medical experts, the condition can cause irregular menstrual cycles, weight gain, excessive hair growth, acne and difficulty conceiving, although many women with PCOS are able to become pregnant with appropriate medical care and lifestyle management.
Chef Amaka and Aproko Doctor have frequently used their platforms to educate the public on health-related issues and have openly discussed aspects of their fertility journey, encouraging empathy for couples facing similar challenges.
Her latest remarks have drawn widespread support from social media users, with many praising her for speaking candidly about the emotional impact of PCOS and online bullying while advocating greater understanding for women living with the condition.
