For the past couple of months, actor Sumona Chakravarti has been away from social media. Recently, she opened up about her absence, revealing that she had been living "under a rock for the last two months."
She shared that she underwent surgery to excise the endometriosis. Previously, she had opened up about her Stage IV endometriosis diagnosis back in 2021.
Chakravarti shared how the condition had progressed over the years despite careful management, leading to her decision to finally undergo surgery. She reflected on how the experience has reshaped her, expressing a desire to use her voice and social media platform to build a community of "like-minded humans, especially women."
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a chronic condition characterised by tissue similar to the uterine lining growing outside the uterus. Because this displaced tissue responds to hormonal shifts, it thickens, breaks down, and bleeds with every menstrual cycle—but with no way to exit the body, it often causes severe pain and inflammation.
The condition can cause fertility issues as well.
What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
There are many symptoms of endometriosis, but the most common is pelvic pain.
*Very painful menstrual cramps
*Infertility
*Abdominal pain or back pain
*Heavy bleeding during periods
*Pain during sex
*Diarrhoea, constipation or bloating
However, experts also point out that for some, there may not be any symptoms, and often it is referred to as asymptomatic endometriosis. According to the Cleveland Clinic, you can have it and not know until you're unable to get pregnant.
What are the four stages of endometriosis?
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) classifies endometriosis into four stages: Minimal, mild, moderate and severe. The classification is based on the location, depth, amount of endometrial tissue, and the presence of scar tissue or cysts.
In stage IV, extensive tissue growth with many deep implants would be present. This stage usually involves large ovarian endometriomas and deep lesions.
For many with asymptomatic endometriosis, fertility is the primary concern. Endometriosis can affect egg quality, distort pelvic anatomy, or create chronic inflammation that hinders implantation.
If advanced or progressive cysts are found on the ovaries, doctors sometimes recommend freezing eggs to protect your ovarian reserve before any potential future surgeries are required.
Periodic pelvic ultrasounds help monitor for the development of ovarian endometriomas. Keeping a log of your menstrual cycles ensures that if mild symptoms—like subtle pelvic pressure, changes in bowel habits, or deep pain during intercourse—do begin to surface, you can catch them early.
If your doctor notices that the lesions or cysts are progressing during your regular check-ups, they might suggest hormonal therapies even in the absence of pain. Continuous birth control pills can suppress the menstrual cycle completely, preventing the monthly thickening and bleeding of the displaced tissue.
If an ovarian endometrioma grows larger than 4–5 cm, surgery may be recommended to avoid the risk of ovarian torsion (the ovary twisting on its blood supply) or cyst rupture.
