‘The difference is so, so crazy’: Barbara Palvin opens up about life after endometriosis surgery at the 2025 Victoria’s Secret fashion show

Back in August, the model had shared a little update on social media about her decision to undergo endometriosis surgery:

“For some years now, I’ve been dealing with the difficulties that can come with my periods. Fatigue, severe pain, heavy and irregular flow, sleepless nights on the bathroom floor. I thought this was just how it works for me. But recently I’ve been advised to seek out an endometriosis specialist to see whether my symptoms are caused by that. I’ve been going to checkups with my gynaecologist every year. I thought if I had endometriosis, I would have known about it by now, but as it turns out, endometriosis can’t be diagnosed with general examinations. So I went, and 3 months later I got operated on. Since then I finally experienced a period that was easier, and now I know the difference. If you suspect that you could have endometriosis I encourage you to find it out. It helped me a lot, and I’m grateful I did it. Early diagnosis and treatment are very important to prevent long-term complications, and now I’m more mindful about my body to act fast if needed,” she had mentioned in the caption of her Instagram post.

Barbara shares health update (Source: Instagram/@relabarbarapalvin)

What is endometriosis?

Endometriosis is caused when the tissue that lines the uterus grows outside of it. The disorder entails several symptoms, like painful cramps during periods, heavy menstrual flow, and pain during sexual intercourse.

Dr Prabha Agrawal, Senior Consultant Obstetrics and Gynecology, Laparoscopic Surgeon, CARE Hospitals, HITEC City, Hyderabad said that in India, over 42 million women are affected by endometriosis. “Endometriosis is a condition in which endometrium like tissue that lines the uterus, grows outside the uterus on the ovaries, pelvic lining, rectum, urinary bladder and other organs. This is commonly found in women of reproductive age,” she said.

The most common symptom of endometriosis is severe pain during the periods, which is far worse than the common period cramps. “Other symptoms include pain during or after sex, pain during bowel movement or painful urination during periods, excessive bleeding, extreme fatigue and nausea”.

When do you need surgery?

For mild endometriosis cases, Dr Agrawal said that pain medication can be combined with a few hormonal pills. In case medication doesn’t help, the doctor may advise surgical intervention where the endometriotic lining is removed along with the scar tissues.

“In extreme cases or in cases where the patient is unable to become pregnant, the doctor may advise a medical therapy prior to the conceiving attempts. This helps in restoring the normal reproductive anatomy and helps the organs to function normally, thereby increasing the chances of becoming pregnant. Endometriosis treatment is a highly customized treatment for each patient,” shares Dr Agarwal.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.