Endometriosis – it’s an awful condition, isn’t it? If you suffer from it, then you’ll know what we’re talking about when we say that the pain is nearly worse than childbirth (although let’s be honest, at least if you’re having a baby they offer you an epidural).
Yes, it’s an illness that can have such a huge impact on your life. But there is one upside (if you can call it that). Ladies, Italian researchers have found that women with the most severe form of endometriosis are usually ridiculously attractive.
So if you spend two weeks out of every month writhing around in pain on the bathroom floor, at least you still look hot. Awesome, right?
Apparently the qualities that lead to your devastatingly good looks also, unfortunately, predispose you to the painful gynaecological condition.
In a study, observers rated 31 per cent of women who suffered from severe endometriosis as ‘attractive’ or ‘very attractive’ while just 8 per cent of women with a milder case of the illness were rated in the same leagues. Only 9 per cent of women without the condition were rated that highly.
Women who suffer from endometriosis experience more pain during their time of the month.
“Several researchers believe that a general phenotype exists which is associated with the disease,” said Dr Paolo Vercellini, an obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Universita degli Studi in Milan.
Endometriosis affects around 5 to 10 per cent of women globally. The severe form, which is known as ‘rectovaginal endometriosis’ is much less common than milder forms, however in recent years there have been more diagnosis of it.
For the study, two male and two female doctors who did not know that the women suffered from severe endometriosis met with each women and rated her overall attractiveness.
Results showed that women with the illness tended to be skinnier and have larger breasts than those without it.
Researchers have said that while it’s not clear why women with severe endometriosis may be more attractive than others, it could have something to do with levels of estrogen within the body. The study was published in the journal Fertility and Sterility.
So ladies, it’s not much consolation but if you do suffer from endometriosis, there’s a good chance that you could give Angelina Jolie a run for her money.
