Olivia Culpo Opens Up About Her Endometriosis Struggles
According to the Office on Women's Health, one in nine people who menstruate between the ages of 15 to 44 have endometriosis. But this statistic does not represent those who go undiagnosed every day. Verywellhealth reports that a staggering 90% of people with endometriosis have had their concerns ignored by their healthcare physician, family or friends at some point.
Healthline lists painful periods, fertility issues and heavy bleeding as possible symptoms of endometriosis, though there are some who don't experience any symptoms. It shares symptoms with other health conditions including autoimmune disorders and fibromyalgia, a study in the Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Journal, making it even harder to get an accurate diagnosis. More needs to be done to cut through the stigma that people living with this condition face. Actress and model Olivia Culpo, who Health notes first revealed her diagnosis in August 2020, is actively using her platform to raise awareness. The "Paradise City" star opened up about her personal struggles with endometriosis.
Olivia Culpo's concerns about having endometriosis were repeatedly dismissed by doctors
In a November 2020 Instagram post, Olivia Culpo revealed that she underwent surgery for endometriosis, and was honest about her difficult journey. Her caption recounted moments where she spoke with multiple doctors about having severe symptoms, only to be dismissed. Culpo explained that she was told to simply "take Tylenol every day" and that her immense period discomfort was normal and meant she needed more rest.
Culpo told People about her struggles with endometriosis. "It was getting to the point where not only were my periods becoming unbearable, but then I've learned also that like another symptom of endometriosis as it's progressing is you have pain even in between periods," she explained. "It's not only even when you're on your cycle, it could be in between."
The former Miss Universe added that living with endometriosis made her feel hopeless and that she could neither control nor effectively treat her symptoms. "It slowly takes over your life," she told the outlet. "You begin to plan your life around endometriosis because you can't function. Every month, you don't know if it's going to be five times worse than last month, or ten times worse."