Lena Dunham, 31, reveals she’s had a full hysterectomy after suffering from endometriosis but still hopes to have children
The Girls actress opened up about her decision to undergo the procedure
GIRLS star Lena Dunham has revealed she’s had a full hysterectomy at 31 years old after battling endometriosis for years.
Lena opened up about her decision to undergo the procedure – which involves the surgical removal of the cervix and uterus – in an essay for Vogue.
She wrote: “I may have felt choiceless before, but I know I have choices now.
"Soon I'll start exploring whether my ovaries, which remain someplace inside me in that vast cavern of organs and scar tissue, have eggs.
“Adoption is a thrilling truth I'll pursue with all my might."
The actress also revealed additional complications that were discovered during the procedure.
She said: “In addition to endometrial disease, an odd hump-like protrusion and a septum running down the middle, I have retrograde bleeding, a.k.a. my period running in reverse so that my stomach is full of blood.”
"My ovary has settled in on the muscles around the sacral nerves in my back that allow us to walk.
"Let's please not even talk about my uterine lining. The only beautiful detail is that the organ - which is meant to be shaped like a light bulb - was shaped like a heart, " she added.
Lena has been repeatedly hospitalised and undergone multiple surgeries to try and treat the condition, which sees layers of tissue grow outside the uterus instead of inside.
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Last April, she was declared endometriosis-free but just a month later was rushed to hospital with what she described as the “greatest amount of physical pain that I have ever experienced.”
Lena recently split from musician boyfriend Jack Antonoff.
The pair were together for five years.
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