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Culture February 14, 2018

Lena Dunham reveals why she underwent a hysterectomy at age 31

WATCH: Lena Dunham Hospitalized for Ruptured Ovarian Cyst

Lena Dunham has revealed that she underwent a hysterectomy after a long battle with endometriosis.

In a first-person essay featured in the March issue of Vogue, the 31-year-old "Girls" star and creator wrote that she made the tough decision to have her uterus and cervix removed after a decade of grappling with pain from endometriosis and nine previous surgical procedures.

Dunham wrote that the pain had become "unbearable" in August and after trying "pelvic-floor therapy, massage therapy, pain therapy, color therapy, acupuncture, yoga," she checked herself into the hospital and announced, "I am not leaving until they stop this pain or take my uterus."

PHOTO: Lena Dunham talks about her decision to have a hysterectomy in the March issue of Vogue magazine.
Norman Jean Roy/Vogue
Lena Dunham talks about her decision to have a hysterectomy in the March issue of Vogue magazine.

The doctors then spent the next 12 days making sure that Dunham was sure about her decision to have the elective procedure, she said.

Once out of surgery, Dunham learned about the true physical state of her uterus and other reproductive organs.

"I wake up surrounded by family and doctors eager to tell me I was right. My uterus is worse than anyone could have imagined," she wrote. "In addition to endometrial disease, an odd humplike protrusion, and a septum running down the middle, I have had 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."

She added, "The only beautiful detail is that the organ -- which is meant to be shaped like a lightbulb -- was shaped like a heart."

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According to the Mayo Clinic, endometriosis can result in "severe" pain and fertility problems due to tissue that grows outside the uterus instead of inside, which is normal in most women.

PHOTO: Lena Dunham attends the 'Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between' Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art, May 1, 2017 in New York City.
James Devaney/GC Images/Getty Images
Lena Dunham attends the 'Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garcons: Art Of The In-Between' Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art, May 1, 2017 in New York City.

Dunham has been outspoken about her battle with endometriosis and in February 2016 took time off to deal with the illness.

Hey Beloved Pals, I just wanted to let you know that, while I am so excited for Girls to return on Feb 21, I won't be out and about doing press for the new season. As many of you know I have endometriosis, a chronic condition that affects approximately 1 in 10 women's reproductive health. I am currently going through a rough patch with the illness and my body (along with my amazing doctors) let me know, in no uncertain terms, that it's time to rest. That's a hard thing to do, but I'm trying, because all I want is to make season 6 of Girls the best one yet. I'm lucky enough to have support and backup from Jenni, Judd and the whole Girls gang. So many women with this disease literally don't have the option of time off and I won't take it for granted. Wishing you all health & happiness, in whatever form suits you. Back soon xxLena

A post shared by Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) on

A month later she was rushed into emergency surgery after an ovarian cyst ruptured.

In her essay for Vogue, Dunham stated that she is still determined to have children and is already looking into her options.

"I may have felt choiceless before, but I know I have choices now," wrote the actress, who recently split from longtime boyfriend Jack Antonoff. "Soon I’ll start exploring whether my ovaries, which remain someplace inside me in that vast cavern of organs and scar tissue, have eggs."

She added, "Adoption is a thrilling truth I’ll pursue with all my might."

Dunham's essay appears in the March issue of Vogue, available on newsstands on 2/20.

PHOTO: Alicia Vikander is pictured on the cover of the March 2018 cover of Vogue magazine.
Vogue
Alicia Vikander is pictured on the cover of the March 2018 cover of Vogue magazine.