Women speaking about their Endometriosis disease really helps me, and it is great seeing so many celebrities join in. This has paved the way for increased education about endometriosis among not only patients, but doctors too.
Endometriosis, according to Speakendo.com, “occurs when tissue that acts a lot like the lining of your uterus-called endometrium-starts growing outside of your uterus, where it doesn’t belong. These out-of-place growths, called lesions or implants, can cause severe pain and inflammation throughout the month”.
If you believe you may have endometriosis, it is important to open up about it with your healthcare provider. If you need help understanding endo symptoms check out our article: “6 Things You’re Not Told About Endometriosis, from Someone Who Has It”. So many women worldwide deal with this condition, but you may be surprised which celebrities do. And who doesn’t love to find a celebrity totally relatable?
- Halsey
Ashley Nicolette Frangipane, better known as the famous singer Halsey, took to Twitter back in 2016 about her experience with Endometriosis. Halsey penned an emotional support message to fans also suffering with endometriosis, including a hashtag for the disease.
Recently, Halsey accepted The Blossom Award at the 2018 Blossom Ball in NYC held by the Endometriosis Foundation. During her acceptance speech, Halsey detailed her journey with endometriosis. You can read the full contents of Halsey’s 2018 Blossom Ball Speech on Endometriosis Fondation of American’s website. Halsey is a constant advocate for bringing awareness to endometriosis, working even presently.
- Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg, a famous American actress is also someone who suffers with endometriosis. She spoke out about her condition at the 2009 Blossom Ball: “I had endometriosis 30 years ago maybe. I was very, very lucky. I had an intelligent doctor who sort of knew what was going on and said well, here take this stuff and he cleared it up. I was very lucky”. Goldberg says this because often women with Endometriosis are left undiagnosed for very long periods of time.
In her speech, Goldberg discusses a conversation she had with Padma Lakshmi. Before this conversation Whoopi Goldberg had not realized that there was not enough awareness about the disease. She stresses that she did not realise how fortunate she was to be diagnosed. Goldberg said: “For all the questions that you asked all the people that you saw, make sure you write in your articles that this is something that needs to be discussed. There is nothing dirty about it. No religious group is going to be pissed if you discuss this. Because if you don’t discuss it, many more women are going to find themselves unable to have children, or find themselves close to dying because it’s led to something else”.
The most important thing for endometriosis right now is to bring about awareness of it. Therefore, so many celebrities are coming out with their stories about their endometriosis journey.
- Daisy Ridley
Daisy Ridley, an actress, best known for her role in Star Wars, not only suffers from endometriosis, but polycystic ovary syndrome. In an Instagram postsince deleted, Ridley opened up about her journey with endometriosis. Ridley talks about her journey, post diagnosis with endometriosis: “At 15 I was diagnosed with endometriosis. One laparoscopy, many consultations and 8 years down the line, pain was back (more mild this time!) and my skin was THE WORST”. Every women’s endometriosis journey is different from another. Ridley’s endometriosis journey is a perfect exhibition of this. If you look up common endometriosis symptoms problems with skin care is not one common on the list. However, this is a symptom Ridley states she had.
Ridley’s Instagram post did not only help show the differing symptoms of endometriosis, it also exhibited the lack of knowledge still surrounding the disease. Ridley also exhibits her support for fans suffering through similar journeys stating; “My point is, to any of you who are suffering with anything, go to a doctor; pay for a specialist; get your hormones tested, get allergy testing; keep on top of how your body is feeling and don’t worry about sounding like a hypochondriac. From your head to the tips of your toes we only have one body, let us all make sure ours our working in tip top condition, and take help if it’s needed”.
- Padma Lakshmi
Padma Lakshmi is one of the most famous celebrities for raising end awareness. She is the co-founder of the Endometriosis Foundation of America and has had endometriosis since she was a young girl. (Even though she was only formerly diagnosed at the age of 36.) Lakshmi dedicates her time to speaking about her own story to give hope to others. She even further discusses in many of her speeches, the importance for change in women’s healthcare overall.
- Tia Mowry-Hardict
Tia was first diagnosed with endometriosis in 2006 after abdominal pains. She attributes the most help with her symptoms to a change in her diet. Her doctor recommended it, and Tia found that staying away from foods that can cause inflammation drastically reduced her pain. She had fears she would be unable to have children; however, she was able to have a son named Cree. Now Tia advocates for the importance of diet regarding endometriosis.
- Dolly Parton
In 1982, the famous country singer underwent a partial hysterectomy related to her endometriosis. She has discussed her depression after the incident due to her inability to have children and the importance of discussing endo to help other women maybe avoid her fate.
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