How Amy Schumer defeated endometriosis

"After undergoing operations to treat my endometriosis, I feel like a new person," Amy Schumer shared in a recent documentary series. Schumer has used comedy as a way to cope with her health issues, which have included endometriosis and a challenging pregnancy, as well as compulsive hair-pulling, over the years.

Amy Schumer has shared that she feels "like a new person" after having surgery to treat endometriosis, a condition that caused her chronic pain for years. She revealed this in a new documentary series that premiered on Monday. In a recent episode of The Check Up with Dr. David Agus, the actress talked about her long-term health problems and how she has chosen to perform as a means of dealing with these issues. The episode premiered on Paramount+.

Endometriosis is a chronic disorder in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus and in other areas of the body, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and bladder. According to the U.S. Office on Women's Health, it is estimated to affect at least 6.5 million women in the United States. This condition, also known as "endo," can occur in anyone with a uterus who is of reproductive age, but it is most common in those in their 30s and 40s. It is often painful and incurable. Amy Schumer, best known for her roles in "Trainwreck" and "I Feel Pretty," underwent a laparoscopic hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) and an appendectomy (removal of the appendix) last year to treat her endometriosis, which she referred to as a "lonely disease" in an interview with her physician, Dr. David Agus from the University of Southern California. In September 2021, Schumer shared on Instagram that the doctor had found 30 endometriosis spots that had spread from her uterus to her appendix during the surgery.

In a new documentary series, Schumer shared that she has been dealing with the pain caused by endometriosis since she first started menstruating at around 11 years old. She talks about these issues and how she was hoping for at least one good week during a month - a week without pain. But despite experiencing symptoms for years, it took a long time for Schumer to receive a diagnosis, which she attributes to systemic inequalities in the medical field that can result in doctors dismissing women's pain. Because even today, doctors are inclined to think that a woman is dramatic rather than in pain.

During her pregnancy, which was documented in the docuseries "Expecting Amy," Schumer struggled with hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition characterized by severe nausea believed to be caused by a rise in hormone levels, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Schumer described the experience as "a living hell." She didn't receive a diagnosis of hyperemesis gravidarum until she was six months pregnant but said she was excited to finally have a diagnosis and has since spoken to many other women who have also dealt with the condition about their experiences.