Inside Daisy Ridley's Experience With Endometriosis

Actress Daisy Ridley went from small TV roles to being a star in the "Star Wars" franchise seemingly overnight (via ELLE Australia). The sudden spotlight was challenging for the Australian actress, and the stress of her fame was exacerbating a painful condition: endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a disorder that causes tissue similar to the uterine lining (the endometrium) to grow outside of the uterus (via Mayo Clinic). It usually affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes, and tissue lining the pelvis, although the tissue can also be found outside of the pelvic cavity. Symptoms include painful periods, pain during intercourse, pain with bowel movements or urination, excessive bleeding, and infertility. Symptoms aren't always dependent on the severity of the endometriosis, as you can have severe disease with little pain and mild disease with intense pain. It usually develops several years after the start of menstruation and can improve with pregnancy and menopause. You're at greater risk for endometriosis if you've never given birth, started your period at an early age, have short menstrual cycles, and have one or more relatives with endometriosis.