Celebrities Share Their Experiences With Endometriosis
Padma Lakshmi, Amy Schumer and more have struggled with the chronic condition.
Endometriosis has gone under the radar for quite some time and has been treated as just another heavy period. In all reality, however, the condition affects roughly 10% of women of reproductive age, which is about 190 million women suffering globally. According to Healthline, endometriosis is a disorder “in which tissue similar to the lining of your uterus grows outside of your uterine cavity.” It can spread to your ovaries, bowels, tissues lining your uterus and other areas of the body. A lot of women endure this for years without diagnosis, including several celebrities who have taken it upon themselves to advocate for others.
Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi has struggled with her quality of life due to endometriosis. In 2018, she shared with WebMD, “We used to plug in my heating pad under the judges’ table. When I was standing, as the camera would pan away from me, I’d sit down — I had a little wooden box my assistant would drag on set with me. After the first few seasons, I got a dressing room so I could lie down on a couch.” Lakshmi added, “I don’t know if I could’ve continued to do Top Chef for 12 years if I didn’t get the help I needed.”
Tia Mowry has also suffered from endometriosis, and her story is similar to women who experience it. “I was not being taken very seriously when it came to my symptoms,” the actor told Today Parents. Like most Black women, she endured pain without any help from doctors who told her there was nothing wrong. It wasn’t until she visited a Black woman from Harvard, and was told she actually had a “classic case” of the condition.
Amy Schumer had to have her uterus and appendix removed in 2021 due to the condition. “The doctor found 30 spots of endometriosis — he removed my appendix because the endometriosis attacked it. There was a lot of blood in my uterus and I’m sore and I have some like gas pains,” she shared in a post-surgery Instagram video.
Below are a few symptoms that indicate you may have endometriosis. Be sure to consult with your gynecologist for a full exam before diagnosing.
Endometriosis warning signs and symptoms
- Pelvic pain
- Painful periods
- Heavy or excessive menstrual bleeding
- Bleeding in between periods
- Infertility issues
- Painful sex
- Painful bowel movements
