Endometriosis Symptoms & Treatment: Lena Dunham Reveals Struggles - 5 Facts About The Disorder

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Actress Lena Dunham announced that she will be taking it slow from work because of her endometriosis. The creator and star of "Girls" revealed that she has been struggling with this chronic condition.

Dunham was supposed to do the press rounds for her TV show, which will begin a new season on HBO this Feb. 21. But, instead, she announced she will be sitting this one out.

"I am currently going through a rough patch with the illness and my body (along with my amazing doctors) let me know, in no uncertain terms, that it's time to rest," the actress wrote on Facebook.

Here are five things you should know about endometriosis:

It is hard to diagnose.

As the actress stated, one in ten women experience this reproductive health condition, but it continues to puzzle medical experts, Endometriosis Association cited.

Every month, a woman's uterus lining builds up tissues for her cycle but someone with the condition develops these tissues outside of the uterus. The abnormal growth may also have lesions, tumors and nodules, which is why those who suffer from it have painful menstruation.

The symptoms are varied.

Common indications of the condition include painful periods with excessive bleeding, pain during sex, pain when urinating or defecting, fatigue, bloating, diarrhea and the inability to conceive, Mayo Clinic cited. The severity of the pain depends with each woman.

Doctors are still unsure of the causes.

Per Mayo Clinic, the exact cause of the condition has yet to be determined. However, doctors have linked the disease to genes, environmental factors, dysfunction in the immune systems or a retrograded menstrual flow. As each case is unique, it's best to get tested for a proper diagnosis.

It has no cure.

There are no treatments to stop the abnormal development in the woman's reproduce organs. However, the symptoms can be managed by doing lifestyle changes, undergoing therapies, taking painkillers, steroids and oral contraceptives, or having surgery. The last option is necessary for severe cases.

Infertility can be reversible.

Although some 40 percent of women with endometriosis have problems conceiving, this can be fixed with surgery. In fact, pregnancy may actually cure the body of the disease as the increase in progesterone will help the uterus function normally, according to New York Daily News.