Last week, model turned presenter and designer Alexa Chung let her followers know that she suffers from endometriosis via a photo she posted on Instagram. In the picture, Alexa can be seen standing in a hospital corridor. She captioned the snap, "I don’t want to belong to any club that would accept me as a member, but here I am. #endometriosisclub #partytime#woohoo#lifelongmembership#sorryifyouhaveittooitsucks#endometriosisawareness".
Endometriosis is a condition wherein tissue similar to that which normally grows inside your uterus is found growing elsewhere, like the fallopian tubes and ovaries. In the UK it effects roughly 1.5 million women and causes extremely painful and heavy periods, as well as various other debilitating symptoms such as fatigue, bowel issues and pelvic pain - including difficulty getting pregnant.
Alexa also took to her Story and posted another pic of herself in a hospital gown, saying: "This sexy lil number was completely open at the back and made from the finest printed cotton poplin. Ties and trims are grosgrain ribbon. One size fits all. Stunning bracelet made from digital print paper and sellotape (every bangle is made to order)."
The model isn't the first celebrity to speak about her endometriosis, previously Lena Dunham has openly discussed her battle with the condition. In 2018 she wrote an article for Vogue, explaining her decision to go ahead with a hysterectomy after suffering for years from severe pain.
"I know that a hysterectomy isn’t the right choice for everyone... that it’s not a guarantee that this pain will disappear, and that you are performing it due to your deeply held, essential and — to my mind — feminist belief that women should be able to make a choice about how they want to spend their childbearing years, she said."
Other celebrities dealing with the condition include, Halsey, Whoopi Goldberg and Daisy Ridley.
Follow Gabrielle on Instagram.
Gaby is the Senior Beauty Writer here at Cosmopolitan.com/UK. Her favourite hobbies include sleeping, eating cake till she can't move and uncontrollably hoarding beauty products.
