Lately celebrities have been opening up about what its really like to have endometriosis From Lena Dunham to Halsey its getting easier and easier to talk about it. 





But one of the first stars to come forward was Julianne Hough who revealed her diagnosis in 2008. Since then Hough has never shied away from the topic  but now she is speaking out even more proudly as the spokeswoman for AbbVies Get in the Know About ME in Endo MEtriosis campaign. And there is still a lot  wants us to know about the condition.  For the longest time I thought This is the way my period is  she tells Glamour.  I did not want to complain so I would just deal with it and ignore it. When Hough was 18 she moved in with a roommate who would been diagnosed with the condition and described her symptoms which sounded familiar. Hough found a doctor who eventually diagnosed her with endo.


Endometriosis does not have a cure  so women learn to deal with their symptoms with the help of their doctors. One of the toughest things for women who have endometriosis is the potential effect on their fertility.  It is so important for women to find a doctor they trust who they can speak to about their symptoms and develop a reproductive life plan which is a fancy way of saying  come up with a timeline for having a baby  explains Joy Brotherton M.D. an associate professor at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. 


 Not all women with endometriosis have difficulty getting pregnant but those who have the disease should be aware and be proactive. Hough who got engaged to NHL player Brooks Laich in 2015 is following Dr. Brothertons advice.  We want to have a family thats definitely in my plan. I am doing what I need to do for me she says. That means taking care of herself too It was pretty debilitating having to be active and dancing through the the sharp pains. Now I am able to handle myself better. Warm compresses help so does getting cozy. I get cozy with my dog I call her my heating pad. 


Hough says she also watches what she eats and works out  um constantly if her Instagram is any indication. But maybe the most surprising thing that has helped her? Just talking about it.  Being educated and understanding what I have makes me feel powerful. Not understanding it ignoring it and saying I was fine put me in a weaker position. Doctors say writing off the condition like this is common with women who suffer from endo. 


 The biggest misconception women have about endometriosis is that the symptoms such as chronic pelvic pain during or between periods or pain during intercourse  are  normal or just  part of being a woman says Dr. Brotherton.  I think the more people who know endometriosis exists hopefully the faster women who are in pain can get diagnosed and treated.