Barbara Palvin endometriosis: Supermodel opens up about years-long health battle
“Fatigue, severe pain, heavy and irregular flow, sleepless nights on the bathroom floor.”
These are the symptoms supermodel Barbara Palvin says she has been dealing with for “some years now” – symptoms she simply thought were normal for her.
But the actress and model has recently learnt that, like many women across the world, she has been navigating the debilitating symptoms of endometriosis.
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After taking “the past three months to rest and heal”, Palvin has opened up to her 20.5 million Instagram followers about the medical journey she has been on.
“Hi guys, it’s been a while! Just a little update and a few thoughts for those out there who could relate to what I’m about to share – for some years now I’ve been dealing with the difficulties that can come with my periods,” she began.
She continued to explain that she had navigated extreme symptoms including “severe pain” and “sleepless nights on the bathroom floor”.
“I thought this was just how it works for me,” she continued.
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“But recently I’ve been advised to seek out an endometriosis specialist to see whether my symptoms are caused by that.
“I’ve been going to checkups to my gynaecologist every year, I thought if I had endometriosis I would have known about it by now, but as it turns out, endometriosis can’t be diagnosed with general examinations.
“So I went, and three months later I got operated on.”
Endometriosis is a disease where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows in other parts of the body.
Currently, the only way that an endometriosis diagnosis can be made is by undergoing a a keyhole surgery called a laparoscopy, per Endometriosis Australia. The surgery is also used to help treat the condition.
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Palvin says that since receiving her diagnosis, she has “finally experienced a period that was easier”.
It is understood that the disease affects 10 per cent of people assigned female at birth worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation.
In Australia, around one in seven women and people with uteruses are affected.
Symptoms can include chronic pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, fatigue, bloating or nausea, depression or anxiety and fertility struggles.
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After sharing her experience, Palvin used her platform to encourage people to seek medical attention if they are concerned.
“If you suspect that you could have endometriosis I encourage you to find it out. It helped me a lot, and I’m grateful I did it,” she wrote.
“Early diagnosis and treatment are very important to prevent long-term complications, and now I’m more mindful about my body to act fast if needed,” she continued.
“That’s also why I took the past 3 months to rest and fully heal. I’m excited about this new chapter of my life and now ready to get back to work.”
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