Francia Raísa has revealed that her reproductive system diagnosis recently “took a serious turn.”
The actress, 35, has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common hormone problem for women of childbearing age that can cause missed or irregular menstrual periods, infertility, weight gain, excess hair growth and acne.
People with PCOS may not ovulate, have high levels of androgens and have small cysts on their ovaries.
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“But in the past two weeks, things took a serious turn,” Raísa told her Instagram followers Wednesday.
“After years of confusing symptoms and seeing several doctors and taking different tests to get NO real answers, I found a new gynecologist who told me that I also have SIBO and endometriosis, which puts me at a very high risk of having complicated pregnancies in the future. I was in shock.”
SIBO stands for small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, which can be caused by complications of diseases or surgery.
Though Raísa did not elaborate on how she might have developed SIBO, she notably donated one of her kidneys to her once-best friend Selena Gomez — who had suffered lupus-related organ damage — in 2017.
Long-term side effects of kidney donation may include intestinal obstruction.
Meanwhile, endometriosis is derived from the word “endometrium,” the tissue that lines the uterus. People with endometriosis have endometrial-type tissue outside of their uterus, which can cause infertility or difficulty getting pregnant, excessive menstrual cramps, abnormal or heavy menstrual flow, and pain during intercourse.
“What strikes me the most is that it’s not enough that I take care of my health and body,” the “How I Met Your Father” star lamented.
“With all the advances in medicine, there still isn’t enough research being done into women’s specific health care to really understand how women like me are able to ensure our opportunity to have a healthy life and family.”
“Instead,” she went on, “our rights as women, including access to critical (and sometimes necessary) health care, are being attacked — and it pisses me off!”
Raísa referenced the Supreme Court’s “awful” decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022, which ended the constitutional right to abortion.
“The neglect we already face as women in health care is insane, and I can’t stand by while laws are passed that limit our rights and freedom — from women’s and LGBTQ+ rights, to access to education and immigration,” she shared.
That’s why the “Grown-ish” star joined Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday “to participate in a fireside chat in Arizona to discuss women’s rights and reproductive freedoms.”
“I needed to hear about her work on this issue and where we all needed to focus our advocacy,” Raísa wrote, adding, “Let’s keep up the fight, people — if not for you, for your mothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, best friends, and all the women in your life who deserve to live with dignity and respect!”
