What is Endometriosis: All about the 'painful' condition Victoria's Secret Angel Barbara Palvin suffered from

As her husband, Dylan Sprouse, said, Barbara Palvin is a ‘tough cookie’!

The Hungarian model walked the latest edition of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, held in New York City on October 15. Now, Barbara has been a Victoria’s Secret Angel since 2019, although she first walked for the brand in 2012. This year marked yet another flawless walk for the model – despite sporting a broken foot, which her husband revealed before the show began.

But that’s not at all.

Along with the broken foot, Barbara has been recovering from her Endometriosis surgery as well, which she underwent a few months ago.

Her revelation has sparked fresh attention to a condition many people live with silently. So, what exactly is endometriosis? How does it develop? What are its warning signs, risk factors, and treatment options?

Earlier in August this year, Barbara Palvin shared an Instagram post revealing she had been dealing for years with severe symptoms tied to her menstrual health: fatigue, “sleepless nights on the bathroom floor,” heavy and irregular flow, and intense pain. She wrote that for many years she assumed this was “just how it works for me.”

She later underwent surgery (laparoscopic) to address the issue and shared that she’s now experiencing what feels like a more manageable period. She also revealed that she had both adenomyosis and endometriosis addressed during surgery.

Her decision to share her story drew attention to a condition many people may have been suffering from in silence, not realizing that what they endure is a medical condition – not just “normal period pain.”

In fact, Dylan Sprouse, Barbara’s husband, sported an endometriosis awareness pin on the carpet and urged people to raise awareness about the condition publicly.

Endometriosis is a chronic, estrogen-dependent condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside the uterus in places it shouldn’t. These misplaced tissues can attach to the ovaries, fallopian tubes, the pelvic peritoneum (lining of the pelvic cavity), intestines, bladder, or other surfaces within the abdomen. Over time, they may become inflammatory, form scar tissue (adhesions), and leave lesions or cysts.

Because this tissue responds to hormonal changes just as the uterine lining does, it thickens, breaks down, and bleeds during the menstrual cycle – but unlike the normal uterine lining, its “shed” blood and tissue have no exit path. That trapped tissue can irritate nearby organs, trigger inflammation, and cause pain.

The exact causes aren’t fully understood, but several theories exist:

Retrograde menstruation: menstrual blood flows backward through the fallopian tubes into the pelvis, carrying endometrial cells that implant on other surfaces.

Coelomic metaplasia: cells lining the abdominal cavity transform into endometrial-like cells under certain stimuli.

Lymphatic or vascular spread: endometrial cells may travel through blood or lymph vessels to distant locations.

Genetic factors: a family history of endometriosis increases risk.

Immune system issues: weakened immune clearance could let displaced endometrial cells survive and grow.

Surgical transplantation: In rare cases, surgical procedures (e.g., C-sections) may inadvertently transfer endometrial tissue to scars (scar or cutaneous endometriosis).

Endometriosis is considered chronic and may progress or remain stable depending on individual factors.

Because endometriotic lesions follow menstrual cycles but are trapped in places where bleeding cannot exit easily, they provoke chronic inflammation, pain, and scarring. Over time, this can cause organs to “stick” together or distort normal pelvic anatomy, leading to more complicated symptoms. For example, a lesion on the ovary may develop into an endometrioma (“chocolate cyst”) — a fluid-filled cyst that can rupture or grow, causing pain and damage.

Symptoms vary widely, and the severity of symptoms does not always match how much disease is present. Still, common warning signs include:

Severe, painful periods (dysmenorrhea): Cramps that may start before menstruation and persist for many days.

Pelvic pain outside periods: Chronic lower abdominal, pelvic, or back pain.

Pain during or after sex (dyspareunia).

Heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) or bleeding between periods.

Pain with bowel movements or urination, especially during periods.

Fatigue, nausea, digestive symptoms (bloating, diarrhea, constipation).

Infertility or difficulty becoming pregnant: Endometriosis affects fertility in many cases.

Because many symptoms overlap with common menstrual discomfort, endometriosis is often misdiagnosed or delayed in diagnosis.

Though endometriosis can appear in many women, certain factors raise the possibility:

Family history: Having a first-degree relative (mother, sister) with endometriosis increases risk.

Early onset of menstruation, shorter menstrual cycles, and heavier bleeding.

Hormonal factors, particularly elevated estrogen levels.

Anatomic anomalies of the pelvis.

Immune system imbalances.

Delayed childbearing or fewer pregnancies.

Because the condition is chronic and estrogen-dependent, changes in hormone exposure or interventions (e.g., hormonal contraceptives) can modify risk and symptom severity.

It’s also important to note that endometriosis can occur even with mild symptoms, so the absence of severe pain doesn’t rule it out. Because endometriosis is more than painful periods — it’s a chronic, often invisible condition affecting numerous aspects of a person’s life, from daily pain to fertility. If you or someone you know experiences persistent pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, or fertility challenges, consulting a professional healthcare provider, a gynecologist, or an endometriosis specialist may be an essential step.