Hailey Bieber is giving fans a frank update about her health.
Sharing a picture of her stomach on her Instagram stories, the model and Rhode skincare founder explained that her bloating is not caused by endometriosis, PCOS or, hello tabloids, pregnancy, but rather an ovarian cyst “the size of an apple.”
“It’s painful and achey and makes me feel nauseous and bloated and crampy and emotional.”
She adds, “I’m sure a lot of you can overly relate and understand. We got this.”
(via @haileybieber/Instagram stories)
According to the Mayo Clinic, “ovarian cysts are sacs, usually filled with fluid, in an ovary or on its surface… Most ovarian cysts cause no symptoms and go away on their own. But a large ovarian cyst can cause: Pelvic pain that may come and go. You may feel a dull ache or a sharp pain in the area below your bellybutton toward one side; Fullness, pressure or heaviness in your belly (abdomen); Bloating.”
And Hailey is right – a lot of women can certainly relate. A 2016 study by the Cleveland Clinic shows up to 18% of women in the U.S. experience ovarian cysts.
Sharing your health issues with 49 million followers is no doubt daunting, but the impact of doing so is always important. Right now, Hailey is helping ease the stigma around women’s health and letting others experiencing anything similar know they’re not alone.
Hailey’s update comes after she was hospitalised earlier this year with stroke-like symptoms. Doctors found she’d suffered a small blood clot in her brain.
(Feature Image Credit: Cubankite/Shutterstock)
