Meet Bibian Andeso, The Baby Who Starts Menstruating At Four Months Old

Bibian Andeso is a Keyan  2-year-old baby who started menstruating at four months old. she was recently in the news for surviving a  rare ovarian cancer at the age of 2. According to her Mother, Faustine Andeso, Bibian developed ovarian cancer when she was four months old.

Bibian was born on the 16th of April 2019. She was her parent’s first child, weighing 4.2kg when she was born. Things started assuming different dimensions when she turned four months old and started manifesting symptoms of puberty as she developed acne.

Her breasts became enlarged, and pubic hair also began to sprout. About a month after the symptoms appeared, Bibian started to bleed from the vagina. Faustine stated that “The bleeding lasted five days” which is the standard bleeding duration for a menstruating female.

Faustine took her daughter to the hospital, and she was treated for blood infections, she was given antibiotics but her situation didn’t improve. The following month, she bled again like she was having menses. Faustine stated that she moved from one hospital to another searching for proper diagnosis and treatment, but nothing much came of it.

Faustine stated that she borrowed money from friends, families, and churches to be able to pay the mounting medical bills after being abandoned by her husband due to the medical condition of the child.

In December 2019, Faustine stated that she noticed that the girl was bloated so she took her to went to Likuyani Sub-County Hospital in Kenya, where the medics prescribed antibiotics and other medicines to treat bloating and indigestion.

Bibian’s symptoms got worse, She had no appetite, was breathing heavily, and could not stomach food so they went back to the hospital where Bibian was asked to undergo an ultrasound. Results showed that Bibian’s abdomen was filled with fluids and she was referred to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital.

The lead doctor at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Elly Odongo explained that Bibian had a growth in her reproductive system. It was the growth that was producing fluids. then recommended surgery immediately.

He noted that Bibian had a type of ovarian cancer known as sex cord-stromal tumor, advising Faustine to be on the lookout for symptoms that mimic puberty.

Dr. Odongo stated that the tumor was functional, meaning, it was producing hormones – estrogen and testosterone; noting that it was the reason the baby presented with symptoms of a child entering puberty.

“The blood she was shedding is equivalent to menstruation in a woman of reproductive age. Of course, in an eight-month-old, this means something is wrong,” He added

The following day, Odongo and his team operated on Bibian and removed the tumors. The surgery was followed by chemotherapy. Now at age two years and five months, Bibian has been declared cancer-free.