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Definition - Endometriosis is a condition that causes tissue to grow on the outside of the uterus, leading to chronic inflammation which may result in scar tissue.

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Prevalence -

It's estimated that one in 10 people with a uterus suffer from endometriosis during their reproductive years, usually between the ages of 15 and 49.

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Symptoms -

The symptoms include extremely painful periods, heavy bleeding, pain during or after intercourse, chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, and infertility.

Some days the pain is so excruciating that the sufferer can't even stand up. This leads to frequent sick days from work and other problems in many areas of their lives.

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Diagnosis -

The only definitive way to diagnose endometriosis is with a surgical procedure called a laparoscopy. A camera is inserted into the pelvis through an incision. It can often be difficult to get a prescription for this procedure if doctors don't recognize the severity of the symptoms.

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Treatment -

There's no definitive cure for endometriosis. Even a hysterectomy doesn't guarantee full relief from the symptoms. The 'best option' is a hysterectomy with ovaries removed at the same time. It's clear that a lot more research and greater awareness are needed.

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Halsey -

The singer, who uses she/they pronouns, is always one of the first to speak out on subjects that need the spotlight. They have been open about their struggles with the condition on social media since 2016, revealing that they've undergone multiple surgeries for the condition and on one awful occasion even had a miscarriage while performing on stage. Studies show that endometriosis hugely increases the risk of miscarriage and fertility issues.

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Halsey -

Halsey welcomed their first child, son Ender, in July 2021 with boyfriend Alev Aydin. Just before the 2022 Grammys, Halsey revealed that they'd undergone another endometriosis surgery, sharing in a post that they were in and out of hospital due to complications of the condition."Trying my best to keep things normal; Grammys, Coachella etc. But my body is putting up a strong protest. And ultimately demanding that I slow down or stop foreal this time." They warned fans they might go M.I.A. for a while to take some time to fully rest and recover. "Chronic illness is a complex mystery," they wrote. 

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Lena Dunham -

If there's a feminist issue to be discussed, you know Lena Dunham is all over it. The writer and actress has been open about her endometriosis journey for the past several years, during which time she's undergone many surgeries.

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Lena Dunham - In January of 2020 she further shared that she'd had a hysterectomy, completely removing her uterus. She said she'd found peace after her final, drastic surgery.

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Amy Schumer -

Amy Schumer gave birth to her first child, baby Gene, in 2019. Doctors didn't expect that she'd be able to carry a baby to term due to the severity of her condition.

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Amy Schumer -

She gave birth via C-section, but the surgery took three hours due to her endometriosis. Her recovery was painful, but she shared an Instagram post stating that it was still the best year of her life.

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Whoopi Goldberg - The amazing Whoopi Goldberg has been vocal about the issue of women's health and her own struggles with endometriosis for decades.

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Whoopi Goldberg - She even created her own line of CBD products aimed at relieving menstrual symptoms and endometriosis. Sadly it was discontinued, but it did a lot to raise awareness about these issues.

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Padma Lakshmi - Padma Lakshmi is one of the key celebrity spokespersons for endometriosis awareness. She struggled with the illness for years and ended up needing surgery when the tissue overgrowth expanded to her small intestine, something which can happen in extreme cases.

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Padma Lakshmi -

She has bravely shared her story and went on to co-found the Endometriosis Foundation of America. The organization aims to raise awareness and provide better training to medical professionals.

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Dolly Parton -

The legendary Dolly Parton was suffering from endometriosis decades ago, long before it was a well-known disorder. She had a partial hysterectomy due to the condition in 1985.

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Dolly Parton -

She told newspapers that it was one of the worst times of her life, and she wished every day that she had the nerve to kill herself. That's a dark insight into the suffering that some women live with.

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Susan Sarandon - Susan Sarandon was only diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 36. While speaking at an event for the Endometriosis Foundation of America, she said: "When all you know is pain you don't know that that is not normal."

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Susan Sarandon -

This accepted belief that being a woman is inherently painful is what keeps a lot of women suffering unnecessarily for decades.

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Alexa Chung - Fashion icon and TV presenter Alexa Chung revealed that she has endometriosis in 2019, at the age of 36.

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Alexa Chung - She said that she was lucky that her condition improved after surgery, but she's aware that not everyone has the same luck.

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Gabrielle Union - Actress, author, and activist Gabrielle Union has been vocal with her struggle with infertility, which was caused by internal endometriosis. This is a variation of the disease where the tissue grows inside the uterine wall instead of on the outside.

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Gabrielle Union - Union has experienced at least eight miscarriages as a result of the condition.

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Jaime King -

The actress revealed in an interview that she has struggled with her symptoms since she was a young girl, but only received her diagnosis when she was 28.

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Jaime King -

She had been experiencing extremely heavy menstrual bleeding and sexual pain for years and seen nine different doctors, who each had something different to say, before she finally found out it was endometriosis.

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Jessica Williams -

Jessica Williams is one of the hosts of the awesome podcast '2 Dope Queens,' where she gets real about all sorts of topics.

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Jessica Williams -

She spoke about how people find it hard to believe that women are in pain, especially women of color. She believes this is why it's so difficult for sufferers to get a diagnosis, often taking multiple doctors and a huge amount of money and time.

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Julianne Hough - Professional dancer and actress Julianne Hough has been speaking out about endometriosis since 2008. She encourages women not to ignore the pain, and educate themselves as best they can.

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Cyndi Lauper -

The 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' singer revealed that she was gravely ill with endometriosis but refused to undergo surgery due to the risk of infertility. Thankfully, she had her son in 1997.

See also: Stars who suffer from chronic illnesses

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