In the other sites, those women still involved in relationships were obligated to have sexual relations, with some having to endure many consequences in order to satisfy their husbands. This woman from Lodja stated, This condition causes sores around the vagina and thighs, sometimes when I have intercourse I am in pain, but I sacrifice myself to satisfy my husband. A woman from Kabongo said, Despite the sores, I accept what my husband wants in order not to be forced out of the household. This would be another subject for mockery. Another woman from Lodja explained, I do not have the same sexual desire as before, but if my husband expresses a sexual need, I cannot refuse. It is the man who is the head of the household and it is he who can say that he does want to have sexual intercourse with me. If he finds no fault in having sex with me, I cannot refuse. Some women described the inconvenience of getting wet, with some avoiding liquid intake before having sex to accommodate and satisfy their husbands. Others suggested that it was not a problem for their partners to get wet during intercourse. Fewer women indicated that they still had the same sexual desire as before the onset of the condition. One married woman from Kabongo explained, I was always available when my husband wanted to have intercourse. I always had the desire and as soon as my husband wanted to have sex, I had no objection. I also wanted us to have sex regularly. Those who were not in relationships expressed disinterest in engaging in new sexual relations and responding to the multitude of questions the condition inevitably provoked. Violence One woman from Kinshasa and four from Lodja indicated that they were victims of physical violence after they developed the fistula and before they separated from their partners. This Kinshasa respondent explained, During the five months that we remained together, he treated me with extreme violence. He wanted me to return to my parents, but I could not because I did not develop the condition there. It was in his home that I got pregnant which caused the condition and therefore I could not return to my home. For this reason he decided to leave the parent’s village so that I could no longer stay with him. Family
In the other sites, those women still involved in relationships were obligated to have sexual relations, with some having to endure many consequences in order to satisfy their husbands. This woman from Lodja stated, This condition causes sores around the vagina and thighs, sometimes when I have intercourse I am in pain, but I sacrifice myself to satisfy my husband. A woman from Kabongo said, Despite the sores, I accept what my husband wants in order not to be forced out of the household. This would be another subject for mockery. Another woman from Lodja explained, I do not have the same sexual desire as before, but if my husband expresses a sexual need, I cannot refuse. It is the man who is the head of the household and it is he who can say that he does want to have sexual intercourse with me. If he finds no fault in having sex with me, I cannot refuse. Some women described the inconvenience of getting wet, with some avoiding liquid intake before having sex to accommodate and satisfy their husbands. Others suggested that it was not a problem for their partners to get wet during intercourse. Fewer women indicated that they still had the same sexual desire as before the onset of the condition. One married woman from Kabongo explained, I was always available when my husband wanted to have intercourse. I always had the desire and as soon as my husband wanted to have sex, I had no objection. I also wanted us to have sex regularly. Those who were not in relationships expressed disinterest in engaging in new sexual relations and responding to the multitude of questions the condition inevitably provoked. Violence One woman from Kinshasa and four from Lodja indicated that they were victims of physical violence after they developed the fistula and before they separated from their partners. This Kinshasa respondent explained, During the five months that we remained together, he treated me with extreme violence. He wanted me to return to my parents, but I could not because I did not develop the condition there. It was in his home that I got pregnant which caused the condition and therefore I could not return to my parent’s home. For this reason he decided to leave the village so that I could no longer stay with him. Family