Amy Schumer reveals she underwent surgery for endometriosis

Amy Schumer has revealed her uterus and appendix were removed as she underwent surgery for endometriosis over the weekend. 

The 40-year-old comedian shared the news with her fans on Sunday as she posted a video of herself laying in her hospital bed the morning after her hysterectomy. 

The mother-of-one has long been vocal about her battle with endometriosis – a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. 

The condition can cause considerable pain for sufferers and have an impact on fertility.  

Giving an update: Amy Schumer has revealed her uterus and appendix were removed as she underwent surgery for endometriosis

While one treatment for endometriosis is surgically removing the uterus, the treatment is controversial as a hysterectomy leaves you unable to get pregnant and it’s not always a cure — the condition and related pain can return.   

Schumer began the video by noting that it was ‘the morning after my surgery for endometriosis and my uterus is out.’ 

She explained: ‘The doctor found 30 spots of endometriosis that he removed. He removed my appendix because the endometriosis had attacked it.

‘There was a lot, a lot of blood in my uterus and I’m, you know, sore and I have some, like, gas pains.’ 

Health issues: In her video, Schumer revealed that her doctors had found '30 spots of endometriosis near my appendix'

Health issues: In her video, Schumer revealed that her doctors had found ’30 spots of endometriosis near my appendix’ 

As well as a video, Schumer uploaded a selfie taken in a hospital gown and blue latex gloves. 

In the caption she wrote: ‘If you have really painful periods you may have #endometriosis.’   

WHAT IS A HYSTERECTOMY?

A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove a woman’s uterus.

There are three kinds:

  • PARTIAL HYSTERECTOMY: Removes two-thirds of the uterus. 
  • TOTAL HYSTERECTOMY: Removes uterus and cervix.
  • RADICAL HYSTERECTOMY: Removes uterus, cervix and ovaries.

The operation is most commonly performed on women between the ages of 40 and 49.

More than 20 million American women have had a hysterectomy, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As women approach menopause, the odds that they will develop one of several serious uterine health conditions increases. Doctors may recommend a hysterectomy as a treatment for:

  • fibroids 
  • endometriosis 
  • uterine (endometrial) cancer 
  • chronic uterine pain or bleeding 
  • collapsed uterus

In some cases, doctors may suggest a hysterectomy as a preventative measure if a woman has significant warning or early signs of developing one or more of these conditions.

When necessary, surgeons may also remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes, if these have also been damaged or are at serious risk of damage.

The removal of reproductive organs sends a woman’s body into menopause, no matter how old she is.

This comes with unpleasant side effects like hot flashes, and many women have to start hormone therapy, taking estrogen to balance out their own hormones.  

The Snatched star has previously spoken about her experiences with endometriosis in the past, which caused complications when she gave birth to her son, Gene, in 2019.

Schumer recalled that her condition had made her cesarean section much harder during an episode of the Informed Pregnancy podcast.

She stated: ‘Even through the birthing centre has an operating room and doctors at the ready… my instincts were just like, no. 

‘I was throwing up through the whole first hour of my C-section. It’s supposed to take about an hour and a half or something but mine took over three hours because of my endometriosis.’ 

The writer went on to note that, although the process was strenuous, she felt that it was worth it after she saw her son for the first time.

‘It was kind of brutal, But Chris was so great—we just stared in each other’s eyes and he just held me there,’ she said.

‘Then they let me hold Gene for a good amount of time. I got to see him and hold him.’

Schumer then underwent IVF treatment in a bid to conceive a second child. 

In-vitro fertilisation, known as IVF, is a medical procedure in which a woman has an already-fertilised egg inserted into her womb to become pregnant.

It is used when couples are unable to conceive naturally, and a sperm and egg are removed from their bodies and combined in a laboratory before the embryo is inserted into the woman.

Once the embryo is in the womb, the pregnancy should continue as normal.

The procedure can be done using eggs and sperm from a couple or those from donors.

However, Schumer admitted in August 2020 that she and Chris had decided against expanding their family because the process had been so ‘tough’ on her.

She said: ‘We did IVF, and IVF was really tough on me. I don’t think I could ever do IVF again.

‘I decided that I can’t be pregnant ever again. We thought about a surrogate, but I think we’re going to hold off for right now.’ 

Schumer notably documented her pregnancy in the miniseries Expecting Amy, which was released last June.

The show chronicled the Trainwreck star’s life as she got married, embarked on a cross-country tour and discovered she was expecting a child. 

Complications: Schumer previously revealed that having a cesarean section for son Gene 'took over three hours because of my endometriosis' (pictured with husband Chris and their son)

Complications: Schumer previously revealed that having a cesarean section for son Gene ‘took over three hours because of my endometriosis’ (pictured with husband Chris and their son)

The project received widely positive reviews upon its release, with many critics commending the performer’s choice to be upfront and honest about her health issues.  

Schumer and Chris were first linked in 2017, and the couple were married during a February 2018 ceremony in Malibu.

In October of that year they announced they were expecting their first child, and Amy welcomed Gene David on May 5, 2019.

'I'm run down and emotional': Schumer underwent IVF treatment in a bid to conceive a second child but revealed last year that she had decided against trying again as the process had been 'really tough'

‘I’m run down and emotional’: Schumer underwent IVF treatment in a bid to conceive a second child but revealed last year that she had decided against trying again as the process had been ‘really tough’ 

Their son’s middle name was originally ‘Attell,’ after Amy’s comedian friend Dave Attell, but they switched it to adopt his first name after realizing ‘Gene Attell’ sounded dangerously close to ‘genital.’

In March of 2019, the couple announced that Chris had been diagnosed on the high-functioning end of the autism spectrum.

‘Once he was diagnosed, it dawned on me how funny it was, because all of the characteristics that make it clear that he’s on the spectrum are all of the reasons that I fell madly in love with him,’ the comedian said in her 2019 Netflix special Growing.

Being honest: The performer was the focus of a well-received docuseries that was centered on her difficult pregnancy

Being honest: The performer was the focus of a well-received docuseries that was centered on her difficult pregnancy

WHAT IS ENDOMETRIOSIS?

Endometriosis occurs when cells in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body. 

Each month, these cells react in the same way as those in the womb; building up, breaking down and bleeding. Yet, the blood has no way to escape the body.

Symptoms include pain, heavy periods and fatigue, as well as a higher risk of infertility, and bowel and bladder problems.

Its cause is unknown but may be genetic, related to problems with the immune system or exposure to chemicals.

Treatment focuses on pain relief and improving quality of life, which may include surgery or hormone treatment.

Source: Endometriosis UK

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