Today in our outpatient clinic, we saw two women who had previously undergone successful surgical repair of vesicovaginal fistula (VVF). Both of them had something in common: it took years—literally years—for them to receive a proper diagnosis.

One was in her 40s, the other in her 60s. In both cases, the condition developed following surgery for uterine fibroids—specifically, a hysterectomy. Some time after their procedures, they began to notice a persistent watery discharge from the vagina.

Unfortunately, this was initially dismissed as a normal postoperative symptom. They were told, “It’s probably nothing,” or “Let’s just wait and see.” Even when they visited gynecologists or urologists, no clear diagnosis was made. And so, they continued to suffer in silence for years—dealing with discomfort, embarrassment, and a loss of control over their own bodies.

Vesicovaginal fistula is a condition in which an abnormal passage forms between the bladder and the vagina, allowing urine to continuously leak through the vaginal canal. Patients often experience constant wetness, a need for pads, odor, discomfort—and above all, the psychological toll of losing control over such a basic bodily function. It profoundly impacts quality of life.

Today, both of these patients had the same message: their urinary leakage had completely stopped after surgery, and they were finally able to live a “normal” life again. One of them said with a bright smile,

“I never thought a day like this would come—where I could just live normally again.”

Those words—and the relief in her voice—left a lasting impression on us.

It also made us reflect: perhaps what’s truly remarkable is the human ability to adapt. These patients had spent years living with what wasn’t normal—but managed to survive until they could be helped.

Although VVF is a relatively rare condition, it is one that can be cured when properly diagnosed and treated with appropriate surgery. However, because it is unfamiliar to many clinicians—and often misunderstood or ignored by patients themselves—diagnosis can be delayed.

Many people think, “Maybe this is just something I have to live with,” or “It’s too embarrassing to talk about.”

That’s why we are committed to listening closely—to the spoken concerns, and especially the unspoken ones.

We want to reduce the number of people suffering in silence, and provide the kind of careful, compassionate care that every person deserves.