Bindi Irwin opens up about a decade-long battle with endometriosis

Animal welfare campaigner Bindi Irwin, the daughter of famed wildlife expert Steve Irwin, spoke this week about her decade-long battle with endometriosis and the surgery she underwent to treat the condition.

In a social network job On Tuesday, young Irwin said she underwent numerous “tests, doctor visits, [and] scans” over the past 10 years to diagnose her “insurmountable fatigue, pain and nausea”. She wrote that a medical professional initially dismissed her symptoms, calling them “just something you deal with as a woman. “.

But after a validating conversation with a friend who encouraged her to keep looking for answers, Irwin underwent surgery for endometriosis. The cchronic disease causes tissue similar to the uterine lining to grow outside the uterus, leading to severe pain, potential infertility and other symptoms, according to the World Health Organization.

The operation led to the discovery of 37 lesions, some of which were deep and difficult to remove, as well as a “chocolate cyst”, which may indicate a more severe stage of endometriosis.

“It was scary to go in for surgery, but I knew I couldn’t live like before. Every part of my life was tearing up from the pain,” she wrote on Instagram, alongside a photo of herself in a hospital bed.

“My family and friends who have been on this journey with me for over 10 years – THANK YOU, for encouraging me to find answers when I thought I would never get out. Thank you to the doctors and nurses who believed in my I am on the road to recovery and the gratitude I feel is overwhelming.

Irwin said she “wrestled for a long time” over whether to publicly discuss her journey with endometriosis, but ultimately felt empowered to speak up to help others deal with it. same thing.

Globally, endometriosis affects 10% of women and girls of reproductive age, according to the WHO. But the disease is not easily diagnosed due to its wide and variable symptoms, as well as its limited knowledge of the disease.

There is currently no cure for endometriosis. Treatment, focused on symptom management, is limited and not easily accessible in many places, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

Many women, girls and others assigned a female at birth not receiving a diagnosis because they are asymptomatic. According to a survey, 90% of people with endometriosis-related symptoms said their pain was regularly dismissed or disbelieved by family, friends, employers, and healthcare providers.

“Things can look good on the outside looking out the window of someone’s life, however, that’s not always the case,” Irwin said in his post.

Many social media users Express gratitude for his message, emphasizing the importance of taking the symptoms seriously.

“There is stigma around this terrible disease,” Irwin wrote. “I am sharing my story for anyone reading this who is quietly dealing with the pain and lack of answers. Let this be your validation that your pain is real and you deserve help.