Bindi Irwin reveals endometriosis surgery in hopes of ending stigma: 'Your pain is real'
Bindi Irwin has been in the public eye since she was a child. Now, the 24-year-old mom is opening up about a health struggle she's dealt with privately for more than a decade.
Irwin, the daughter of the late TV host and zookeeper Steve Irwin, revealed in an Instagram post Tuesday that she has struggled with "insurmountable fatigue, pain & nausea" for over 10 years, making regular visits to the doctor for tests and scans. She said she was told that her pain was "simply something you deal with as a woman."
But recently, Irwin underwent surgery for endometriosis, where doctors found "37 lesions"
"Going in for surgery was scary but I knew I couldn’t live like I was," Irwin wrote. "Every part of my life was getting torn apart because of the pain."
Why Irwin is speaking out now: 'You deserve help'
Irwin, who married husband Chandler Powell in 2020 and welcomed daughter Grace Warrior Irwin Powell a year later, said she faced an internal battle over whether to share her experiences publicly, but ultimately decided she felt responsible to speak out and help others in similar situations.
"I’m aware of millions of women struggling with a similar story. There’s stigma around this awful disease," she wrote. "I’m sharing my story for anyone who reads this & is quietly dealing with pain & no answers. Let this be your validation that your pain is real & you deserve help. Keep searching for answers."
Here's what you need to know about endometriosis and how others in the public eye have used their platforms to spread awareness.
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a disorder that causes tissue similar to what lines the inside of a uterus to grow outside of the uterus, often causing pain, cysts, scarred tissue and fertility problems, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The common condition affects one in 10 women, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Almost 40% of women with infertility have endometriosis, the ACOG reported.
Irwin said doctors found a "chocolate cyst" during her operation, which refers to cystic lesions known as endometriomas, typically found in the ovaries and filled with a dark brown endometrial fluid, according to the National Institute of Health. "Endometriomas can lead to chronic pelvic pain and infertility and often require surgery for treatment," the NIH added.
Exclusive: Iowa congresswoman reveals painful endometriosis battle, new fight to increase funding
Gabrielle Union, Amy Schumer and more stars who have been open about endometriosis struggles
Several high-profile stars have come forward in the last few years to share their experiences with endometriosis publicly.
Amy Schumer announced in 2021 that she had her uterus and appendix removed as a result of endometriosis. At the time, Schumer told fans she wanted to "raise awareness" about endometriosis, saying the condition is "really painful and debilitating, and you don't have to live with it."
Gabrielle Union in 2018 said she had a type of endometriosis called adenomyosis that impacted her fertility.
Union said she experienced periods that lasted 10 days. Doctors put her on birth control in her 20s to control the heavy bleeding that adenomyosis caused. She cautioned other women not to let doctors ignore their concerns.
"Dancing With the Stars" alum Julianne Hough began experiencing symptoms when she was 15, but did not receive a diagnosis until she was 20. And even then, she kept it a secret.
"I thought it was just what it feels like to be a girl with bad periods," Hough told Women's Health in 2019. "I didn't think to go to the gynecologist. Because I’m a competitor, I felt like I had to push through the pain and just work."
"Star Wars" actress Daisy Ridley opened up in 2016 about struggling with endometriosis and discovering she has polycystic ovaries.
"To any of you who are suffering with anything, go to a doctor; pay for a specialist; get your hormones tested, get allergy testing," she wrote in an Instagram post. "Keep on top of how your body is feeling and don't worry about sounding like a hypochondriac. From your head to the tips of your toes we only have one body, let us all make sure ours our working in tip top condition, and take help if it's needed."
More on celebrities being vocal about health issues
Interview: How Amy Schumer's endometriosis influenced her turn to dramatic roles
Explainer: Gabrielle Union says she probably can't get pregnant because of adenomyosis. What exactly is that?
And: Julianne Hough and husband Brooks Laich are 'going through IVF' with no 'shame or guilt'
Contributing: Jenna Ryu, Sonja Haller