LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 09: Honoree Lena Dunham attends the 24th annual Women in Entertainment Breakfast hosted by The Hollywood Reporter at Milk Studios on December 9, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Lena Dunham has been hospitalized and will undergo surgery for a ruptured ovarian cyst, her spokeswoman said.
“Lena Dunham has been very public with her personal bouts with endometriosis. This morning, she suffered from an ovarian cyst rupture and has been taken to the hospital,” Dunham’s rep, Cindi Berger, said in a statement Saturday. “Lena will be undergoing surgery at an undisclosed hospital. We thank you for your understanding and hope that Lena’s privacy will be respected.”
Dunham has been very open about her health issues in her writings and on social media.
In a February Facebook post, Dunham said she wouldn’t be doing press for the fifth season of her HBO series, “Girls,” because of the endometriosis.
“As many of you know I have endometriosis, a chronic condition that affects approximately 1 in 10 women’s reproductive health,” she wrote. “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.”
Endometriosis occurs when tissue that lines the uterus is found outside of the uterus.
Dr. Scott Sullivan, associate professor at the Medical University of South Carolina, told CNN that for some women, the pain caused by the condition can be chronic and challenging.
“It can get worse and worse over time. … It can cause bowel problems, diarrhea and cramping,” said Sullivan.
The fifth season of “Girls” premiered February 21. The series is scheduled for a sixth and final season, which will air next year.
