“Girls” creator and actress Lena Dunham has canceled a six-day tour
to support her feminist newsletter, Lenny Letter, due to complications
and extreme pain from endometriosis surgery. The actress has been very
vocal in the past about the condition, posting about the reason for the
cancelation on her website
Here are five things to know about the painful medical condition.
1. Endometriosis is a condition in which uterine tissue grows outside
of the uterus in different parts of the pelvis, causing what is often
called lesions. The tissue, still responds to hormonal triggers that
cause cramps, swelling, shedding and bleeding, just as it does within
the uterus. Pain typically occurs during menstruation, but can happen at
any time and cannot be relieved by strong painkillers or NSAIDS.
2. Some symptoms of endometriosisinclude debilitating cramps, pain in
the legs and/or back, constipation, irregular periods and infertility.
3. Doctors don’t know why endometriosis occurs. Diagnosis can sometimes
be tricky, because symptoms vary from woman to woman. In fact, it can
take up to 10 years to be diagnosed because women are often
misdiagnosed. A good indicator is that the condition is genetic: if a
relative suffers from endometriosis, a woman is 5 to 7 times more likely
to suffer from it too, reports the Endometriosis Foundation.
4. Endometriosis is not curable, but it is treatable. One of the best
treatments is laparoscopic excision surgery, in which doctors remove
lesions. But they can be hard to remove, because the tissue forms both
above and below attached tissue, like an iceberg, reports the
Endometriosis Foundation. Hormone birth control can also help keep the
uterine tissue thin, preventing swelling and cramps.
5. The condition affects 1 in 10 women in the United States and over
175 million women worldwide. Celebs besides Dunham who have revealed
suffering from the disorder include Whoopi Goldberg, Susan Sarandon, Dolly Parton, and Daisy Ridley.
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