Bindi Irwin is speaking out about the shortcomings in women’s healthcare, sharing her personal struggle with endometriosis and the years of medical dismissal she faced.
In a podcast interview released Thursday, June 5, on Not Gonna Lie with Kylie Kelce, the 26-year-old television personality revealed that doctors dismissed her symptoms for years before she received a proper diagnosis.
“Doctors initially told you your endometriosis pain might have just been part of being a woman. Is that right?” Kelce asked.
“Yeah,” Irwin responded. “I can’t tell you how mad that makes me. It’s the epitome of how women’s health is often ignored.”
Irwin described how some doctors questioned her mental health instead of addressing her physical symptoms. She was advised to meditate or relax with a cup of tea.
“I was like, ‘This isn’t a mental problem. I can’t function,’” she said. “But after hearing the same message over and over—that I was just hormonal or anxious—I started to believe it.”
A Worsening Condition After Childbirth
Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside it, leading to pain, inflammation, and other symptoms. Before her diagnosis, Irwin experienced intense menstrual pain, nausea, and fatigue. After the birth of her daughter in 2021, her symptoms worsened dramatically.
“It got so much worse after I had my daughter,” she said. “I would just lay on the floor because I couldn’t move. I wanted to be there for her, but I was so sick.”
Eventually, Irwin found a doctor in New York who suspected endometriosis. The condition, however, can only be confirmed through exploratory surgery. During her procedure, doctors found 38 lesions and a cyst.
In May, she underwent another surgery to remove 14 more lesions, along with an appendectomy and hernia repair.
Raising Awareness Through Her Story
Irwin said she now feels a responsibility to speak up so that others don’t have to suffer in silence.
“It’s not normal to be in pain,” she said. “So many people are living in agony, and nobody deserves that. Everyone deserves proper healthcare and a diagnosis. We shouldn’t be dismissed.”
Through her story, Irwin hopes to raise awareness and push for a more responsive and compassionate approach to women’s health.
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