Dolly Parton died on Tuesday, August 25, after a brief battle with cancer
Dolly Parton has sadly died aged 80, with tributes flooding in across the world. And while the country music icon was known for her upbeat outlook, she also lived with an incurable condition that caused debilitating pain.
Endometriosis – where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside it – can cause severe, widespread pain all over the body. For many, it can also lead to infertility.
While people in the music industry shared personal stories about the quick-witted singer, loved for her Southern charm, others remembered her for another reason.
According to Page Six, in the early 1980s Parton began experiencing severe abdominal pain and heavy bleeding. She was hospitalised several times and underwent multiple procedures.
In 1982, she was forced to cancel a tour as her condition worsened, and she was later diagnosed with endometriosis.
To address her pain, the songwriter underwent a partial hysterectomy in 1985 aged 36, according to an interview with Closer Weekly. The surgery meant she could not have children – something she spoke about candidly over the years.
Remembering the Country icon, BBC presenter Emma Barnett shared her story in a documentary, Emma Barnett: Fighting Endometriosis. She opened up about her lifelong struggle with endometriosis, revealing she had a hysterectomy just like Dolly.
In a post about the 9-5 singer following her death, she said: “Dolly – my endo and hysterectomy sister – thank you for bringing your dark into the light and still shining so very brightly. Go well – you Queen of a woman you.”
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is an incurable condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb (uterus) grows elsewhere in the body. It can respond to hormones during the menstrual cycle, which may trigger inflammation, pain and the build-up of scar tissue.
It most often develops on the lining of the pelvis and can affect the ovaries. It may also involve nearby organs such as the bowel or bladder. Endometriosis can also occur outside the pelvis, including in the chest.
The condition affects around 1 in 10 women and people assigned female at birth from puberty to menopause, though symptoms can continue long-term. In the UK, that’s more than 1.5 million people across all races and ethnicities living with endometriosis.
Endometriosis symptoms
Common symptoms include:
- Pelvic pain
- Bloating
- Painful periods that interfere with everyday life
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Pain during or after sex
- Painful bowel movements/when having a poo
- Pain when urinating/peeing
- Difficulty getting pregnant – up to 70% of those with endometriosis will be able to get pregnant naturally
- Fatigue
- Unexplained pain throughout the body
