Child Marriage: The Hidden Abuse No One Wants to Talk About

In this episode of Gyno Info, I’m talking about child marriage — and why I consider child brides to be victims of childhood sexual abuse.As an OB‑GYN, I’ve seen firsthand how early pregnancy and forced marriage impact young girls physically, emotionally, and socially. While many countries officially list 18 as the legal age of marriage, there are still loopholes through parental or judicial consent that allow girls — sometimes as young as 13, or with no minimum age — to be married, often after becoming pregnant.In this episode, I break down:How child marriage exposes girls to repeated sexual assaultThe serious health risks of pregnancy in children, including preeclampsia, premature birth, maternal death, and obstetric fistulasThe increased risk of sexually transmitted infectionsThe long‑term mental health, educational, and economic consequencesWhy poverty, sexism, and cultural systems continue to fuel this practiceI also discuss recent global changes to marriage laws, including countries that have removed or lowered minimum age protections.This is a difficult topic — but it’s one we need to talk about openly if we want real change. My goal with Gyno Info is always the same: to help women understand their bodies, advocate for themselves, and demand better healthcare and legal protections.If you believe girls deserve protection, education, and autonomy over their bodies, this episode is for you.You can write to us at [email protected] follow us on Instagram @gynoinfo