Janel Parrish Has Surgery to Remove Cysts Following Endometriosis Diagnosis
"There is so little information out there about this and there is no cure...so it is easy for us to feel helpless, scared and alone," the actress shared
Denise Truscello/Getty Janel Parrish on March 10, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Janel Parrish is updating fans on her health.
On Tuesday, June 25, the Pretty Little Liars alum, 35, revealed that she was recently diagnosed with endometriosis and had surgery to remove cysts that emerged due to the disease.
Endometriosis occurs when the inner lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus. It typically affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue lining the pelvis, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Parrish announced her diagnosis and recent procedure in a series of Instagram Stories on Tuesday, June 25.
“I usually keep my private life private...but I wanted to share this if it can help other women suffering to know they're not alone,” she began in the caption, which was placed on a photo of her in a hospital bed holding another person’s hand.
“After months of excruciating pain and not knowing why, I was diagnosed with Endometriosis and underwent surgery to remove cysts and scar tissue as a result of the disease,” she continued. “To my Endo sisters, there is so little information out there about this and there is no cure...so it is easy for us to feel helpless, scared and alone.”
The To All the Boys I Loved Before actress said she has felt stronger after seeing so many other women write about their experiences on social media.
“Seeing other women posting about their experiences made ME feel stronger. I hope this helps to keep the conversation about Endo open and flowing, so we can raise awareness and lift each other up," she wrote. “We ARE strong and we got this. I got you."
Janel Parrish/Instagram Janel Parrish June 25, 2024 Instagram Story
In addition to raising awareness of the disease, she shared sweet snapshots of her dogs, Kleo and Moose, declaring her pets the “best nurse[s].”
Janel Parrish/Instagram Janel Parrish June 25, 2024 Instagram Story
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Janel Parrish/Instagram Janel Parrish June 25, 2024 Instagram Story
Endometriosis is very common, and there are estimations that 10% of women can be diagnosed with it. But, the condition is often missed, and on average, women in the U.S. suffer 10 years with the disease before receiving a proper diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Mary Jane Minkin, a board-certified OB/GYN at Yale University School of Medicine and member of the PEOPLE Health squad, previously told PEOPLE that endometriosis is not always “obvious” to doctors.
Emma McIntyre/Getty Janel Parrish on December 16, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
“You may not feel any masses in the pelvis when you examine a woman. An ultrasound may not show it either,” she explained. “Sometimes you need to go into the belly and look with diagnostic laparoscopy. And the amount of pain women have does not correlate exactly with the amount of disease they have.”
Parrish joins a list of celebrities who have talked openly about their experiences with endometriosis, including Whoopi Goldberg, Bindi Irwin, Lena Dunham, Halsey, Julianne Hough, Amy Schumer and Padma Lakshmi.
Read the original article on People.