Our mission is to increase endometriosis awareness, fund landmark research, provide advocacy and support for patients, and educate the public and medical community.
Founders: Padma Lakshmi, Tamer Seckin, MD
×
Donate Now

Stars Who Faced Infertility and Endometriosis

by
Stars Who Faced Infertility and Endometriosis

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton Endometriosis
Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Dolly Parton battled crippling depression after being diagnosed with endometriosis and undergoing a partial hysterectomy, at the age of 36 in 1982. “It was an awful time for me," confessed the “Coat of Many Colors” singer, 72.

Jillian Michaels

Jillian Michaels Endometriosis
“I was always told that fertility would/could be a problem for me,” revealed Jillian Michaels. The personal trainer, 44, best known from ​The Biggest Loser​, decided to manage her endometriosis pain with a healthy, organic diet and exercise. “In order to get pregnant, I know it would require surgery,” said Michaels. She decided against that, but went on to welcome two children in 2012: a daughter, Lukensia, adopted from Haiti and a son, Phoenix, carried by her partner Heidi Rhoades.

Julianne Hough

Julianne Hough Endometriosis
When stabbing stomach pains turned out to be endometriosis for ​Dancing with the Stars​’ Julianne Hough, she instantly feared the worst about her dreams for a future family. “I know more than anything I want to be a mom and have kids,” shares Julianne, 29. “That’s so important to me.” She underwent laparoscopic surgery in 2008, after a cyst ruptured, and wed pro hockey player Brooks Laich in 2017. Asked if she and Laich had considered options such as IVF, surrogacy or adoption she told The Blossom: "We have discussed options.The great thing is that there are options available for women who have endometriosis to have children."

Susan Sarandon

Susan Sarandon Endometriosis
Academy Award winning actress Susan Sarandon was diagnosed with endo in 1983 after years of irregular bleeding and fainting spells. “I was told I could never be a mother,” recalled the star, 71. Sarandon defied the odds three times. She welcomed daughter Eva and son Jack in the ‘80s. And gave birth to her third child, son Miles in 1992 when she was 46 years old!

Padma Lakshmi

Padma Lakshmi Endometriosis
“I was told I would never have children naturally, that I only had a 10 to 15 percent chance of having them in vitro,” admitted EndoFound Co-Founder and ​Top Chef​ star Padma Lakshmi. “When you’re staring down the barrel of your 40t​h​ birthday and you hear that you can’t have kids because [endometriosis] went unchecked and undiagnosed for so many years, it’s devastating.” That’s why she considers the pregnancy and birth of her daughter, Krishna, in 2010 “a miracle.”

Lena Dunham

Lena Dunham Endometriosis
Lena Dunham had a total hysterectomy—or the surgical removal of the cervix and uterus—at the age of 31, as a last resort to her struggle with endometriosis. While she’s confessed that she’ll look into adoption eventually, the ​Girls​ star was honest about the pain of never being able to get pregnant. “I wanted that stomach,” Lena, 31, said. “I wanted to know what nine months of complete togetherness could feel like. I was meant for the job, but I didn’t pass the interview.”

Jaime King

Jaime King Endometriosis
Actress Jaime King hopes to inspire other women struggling with infertility and endometriosis to know that there is hope. “This is the truth about conceiving my son. Eight years of pain and undiagnosed PCOS and endometriosis. Five miscarriages, five rounds of IVF, 26 IUI’s most with no outcome,” shared Jaime, 39, who endured all that during the four and a half year process to conceive her son James, who was born in 2013. His brother Leo came along two years later.

Bethenny Frankel

Bethenny Frankel Endometriosis
“I’ve had endometriosis my whole life,” shared Bethenny Frankel, “When I would get periods, I would just experience very heavy bleeding and pain and cramps and that was the real big problem.” During her thirties, The ​Real Housewives of New York City​ star underwent surgery that she later said helped calm the bleeding down and she became pregnant with daughter Brynn, who was born in 2010. “I’m so blessed with my daughter and my career,” Frankel, 47, has said. Frankel has also confided that she suffered a miscarriage in February 2012 while eight weeks pregnant.

 

 

 

 

<< Previous
Endometriosis and IVF: Genetic Testing Can Save Time, Money and Heartache?


Endometriosis and IVF: Genetic Testing Can Save Time, Money and Heartache

Next >>
She Was Hospitalized for Endometriosis—and Ran the Boston Marathon One Week Later


She Was Hospitalized for Endometriosis—and Ran the Boston Marathon One Week Later

The Blossom Blog

Login

All fields with * are required.