27-year-old actress Florence Pugh reminded fans this week of the importance of performing regular health checks, especially when your body seems to be telling you something.
While on the She MD Podcast, Pugh explained that she'd been experiencing some pain and discomfort, and at one point, she was "having weird dreams" and she just had a "sudden feeling" that she needed to go to the doctor.
Pugh reflected:
"I had this sudden feeling that I should go and get everything checked. I'd had a few weird dreams. I think my body was telling me."
"I then asked my close friends if they knew any amazing gynecologists, and then I met [Dr. Thais Aliabadi]."
"I went in, and she asked if I'd ever had an egg count, and I was like, 'No, what do you mean? I'm so young. Why do I need an egg count?'"
"She did an egg count and pointed out exactly what I had, that I had PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome), and that also probably due to all the pain that I [have] was endometriosis."
Pugh had a hard time processing the information at first.
"It was just so bizarre, because my family are baby making machines. My mom had babies into her 40s, my gran had... so many kids, as well, and my sister also had kids later into her thirties."
"I just never assumed that I was going to be in any way different and that there was going to be an issue with it, or that I had to think about it before I had to think about it."
"So I guess I just was never worried. It just wasn't a red flag for me."
Pugh stressed on the podcast the importance of acting quickly:
"It was never really a worry for me, but then of course, I learned completely different information—that at the age of 27, I need to get my eggs out and do it quickly, which was just a mind-boggling realization."
"I'm really, really lucky that I got [a diagnosis] and found out when I did, because I've been wanting kids since I was a child."
You can listen to the clip here:
Already an advocate for body positivity and inclusive body representation in the media, Pugh moved quickly to share her story and to urge others to take their health and potential health concerns seriously.
Pugh pointed out:
"The conversation isn't loud enough. It isn't taken seriously enough. It should be really common to talk about stuff like this, but it's obviously because there's a lack of information and a lack of sharing information."
Listeners were grateful to Pugh for being vulnerable and sharing her story to raise awareness.
@shemdpodcast/Instagram
@shemdpodcast/Instagram
@shemdpodcast/Instagram
@shemdpodcast/Instagram
@shemdpodcast/Instagram
@shemdpodcast/Instagram
@shemdpodcast/Instagram
@shemdpodcast/Instagram
@shemdpodcast/Instagram
The doctor who diagnosed Pugh, Dr. Thais Aliabadi, agreed with the actress that there needed to be increased awareness of the health conditions that directly impact women.
"[It's said that] 75 percent of women don't realize they have it [endometriosis or PCOS], but I think that number is 90 percent. I swear to god, that's all I see. I've seen PCOS every single day of my life for the past... since I opened up my office."
"The problem with PCOS is, even when they come in with a diagnosis, they haven't been treated. So I get so excited when someone comes in and says, 'My doctor says I have PCOS,' and I've learned in these past three or four years, more and more people are coming in every month."
"I think that's partly because of patients like Florence who share their experience. That's why when she told me her doctor in London dismissed her, I begged her. I'm like, 'You see what I've been fighting against.'"
Dr. Aliabadi also praised Pugh for using her platform to talk about her health journey, assuring her she is helping "millions and millions of little girls" by speaking out.
@shemdpodcast Florence Pugh uses her voice to advocate for women’s health and share her journey with PCOS and Endometriosis. Full episode out now on Apple, Spotify & Youtube. Link in bio to listen🎙️ #florencepugh #shemdpodcast #endometriosis #pcosawareness #womenshealth
Awareness of autoimmune diseases and other invisible illnesses is increasing, but much more still needs to be done to ensure that people are frequently being checked and that their symptoms are being listened to instead of silenced.
