Julianne Hough didn’t tell her bf she had endometriosis until she was doubled over

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Julianne Hough still has red hair, just FYI. She was at the Vanity Fair Oscar party in a snooze of a white Max Mara slip dress paired with a pendant necklace and black clutch. She could have worn something much more risky and fug, so this is fine. We’ve seen her in worse.

Julianne first disclosed her endometriosis to the public in 2008, and she’s been open about it over the years. Since last fall, she’s had an endorsement deal with the pharmaceutical company Abbvie to increase awareness and of course generate interest in their upcoming drug, Elagolix, which is pending FDA approval. Their website seems aimed at gathering patient information for marketing purposes. (She’s doing a good thing by being open about her health problems, she just has a financial incentive.) Julianne talked to E! about her condition, which can be debilitating particularly during menstruation. She said that her new husband Brooks Laich is really sweet to her when she’s in pain, but that she didn’t tell him she had endometriosis until she couldn’t avoid it.

Detailing her decade-long journey with the disorder, Julianne, who has a new campaign SpeakEndo, explained, “Obviously, with my story, I came out with it in 2008 when I found out that I had Endometriosis. But then at the time, I was like, I don’t know if I really want to talk about this, it’s very personal and there can be some misconceptions about certain things and I was like, I don’t have the answers yet.”

The former Dancing With the Stars pro says she started talking about it because she she feels she has a “responsibility” to use her voice “to help other women so they don’t have to go through this sort of like, silent, I’m alone situation, that there’s actually an amazing community of women that are there for you.”

[Hough] also says she kept the information from Brooks because she’d grown up her whole life as a “competitor,” believing she could do anything on her own. The star said that she didn’t have the “Endometriosis talk” with him until one day she was doubled over in pain and couldn’t hide the fact that she was going through what she was going through.

The newlywed said after she revealed her disorder to the Canadian ice hockey star, they were able to talk about it and that she’s been learning to let him there for her.

Julianne said nowadays, “He rubs my back while I’m going through my thing, knowing that it’s going to pass, but like he’s not freaked out anymore. And now he feels like he’s contributing to helping.”

She added, “As hard as it was for me to let go of that control, it’s actually amazing.”

[From E! Online]

Although I’ve never been diagnosed with endometriosis, my periods used to be so painful I had to stay in bed for half my cycle. I went on birth control pills and am so relieved not to deal with that anymore. (Ablation was also an option my doctor and I considered.) I can relate to not wanting to tell people about it, particularly a new partner, because you want to feel like you can handle things. Sometimes the strongest thing you can do is admit you need help. Brooks comes across like a caring partner and I’m not surprised he dotes on Julianne. Also, I get the impression that she’s trying to get pregnant. This is just a hunch!

Still not used to her as a redhead. I suspect she’ll go back to blonde soon.

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photos credit: WENN and Instagram/Julianne Hough

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26 Responses to “Julianne Hough didn’t tell her bf she had endometriosis until she was doubled over”

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  1. HH says:

    The red hair looks nice on her when but something about it doesn’t work, in the way that it’s abundantly clear she’s not naturally a redhead. When you color your hair, you don’t want to look like you’re “trying something on,” you want to look like it fits you. Even when people dye their hair more playful colors, like Gwen Stefani,they have that special pizazz to pull it off. The style looks like it belongs to them.

    • sasa says:

      I think it’s the eyebrows. Either have them lighter and thinner, more like a natural redhead, or just leave them brown and work the contrast. Leaving them big but dying the same red as the hair is a really confusing look.

      • HH says:

        I think it’s her skin color. I know this sounds redundant, but redheads have a full set of genes that just…work. It’s the hair, the eyes, the skin. It’s something unique to them. That’s why people can typically dye their hair any other color and get it right, but red hair is tricky.

    • I rarely comment but... says:

      I see what you mean, you can definitely tell she isn’t naturally a redhead. Still, I think it looks amazing on her.

    • RedOnTheHead says:

      HH…you got it! Us natural redheads just have a certain tone to our skin and it’s totally due to genetics. And it can’t be faked. Having said that, I like this particular color on her in the pics where her skin is lighter. It also makes her blue eyes pop. But that Instagram pic…just no. Her skin is way too warm in that pic to be remotely believable.

    • TwoPac says:

      Natural or blonde on a light skinned person is just “easier” because less make-up is required. The red needs more “drama”, and will require more styling maintenance overall. It’s kind of aging, tho her photos are eclectic.

  2. Juju says:

    I wish she had tried a different shade of red. I believe that most people can look good in any hair color, they just need to find a tone and shade that works with their natural coloring.

    I feel like this is a fairly bright red that looks very artificial. I bet she would look fantastic in a medium brown with some red tone to it. I hope she doesn’t write off red forever just because this shade isn’t working.

  3. Nola says:

    She looks completely different as a redhead. Virtually unrecognizable (at least in this picture).

    • Esmom says:

      Agreed. I don’t think I’d have recognized her, either. The red hair is pretty to me.

  4. Red says:

    She looks like a middle aged soap star with this coloring. Also, I relate her and her husband to Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard. They both crave attention in ridiculous amounts.

  5. LInabear says:

    I think the red hair ages her a bit but that’s not a bad thing because she looks much more interesting with this color hair. Before she was vanilla pretty. Now she is more unique pretty.

    I’m amazed she was able to become such an accomplished dancer while dealing with endometriosis. It makes me wonder what excuses I’ve been making in my own life.

  6. Jess says:

    I understand exactly what she’s saying, I put off telling my husband for months when we first dated. I just hid at home when I was in pain, but one month my period came early while I was spending the night at his house, I was doubled over crying in pain and the bed looked like a murder scene. I’m also blessed with the inability to keep high platelet counts and have low iron so I bleed like crazy. It’s embarassing to talk about with someone new, it shouldn’t be but I was taught that periods were private and gross and to hide my tampons or pads, which is just silly and I’m trying to change that. I tell my daughter all the time don’t be ashamed when it happens, people get uncomfortable because the vagina is involved, they’ll get over it!

    I’ve seen these Endo commercials and keep meaning to go to the website and sign up for the study. I’m glad it’s being recognized, I’m sure millions of women are suffering and being told they just can’t handle pain and it’s nothing, while their insides are being damaged beyond repair.

    Also, I like Julianne but cannot stand the red hair on her, blonde just fits her.

    Edit-read the other comments and agree that a different shade of red may look better. I’ve never seen someone with red eyebrows, wonder why she did that, lol.

  7. Jay says:

    I have endo too and I’m asking this seriously: why would it be something you can’t share with your partner? I don’t buy the “competitor” argument she made. How fragile does a man have to be – or how fragile do some women think some men are – that they can’t handle being told their partner has endo? Like, honestly? I don’t get it. Am I missing something? If so, please help me understand it, because I don’t get it. (I’m 100% serious. Why is this man getting so many cookies for being brave enough to handle the news that his partner has endo? He does sound like a caring partner but honestly I feel like if your spouse has a migraine, eg, and you don’t make them tea or get them a cold coke or turn off all the lights and do what you can to help them, you’re not being a good partner.)

    • I rarely comment but... says:

      I think it’s more to do with the nature of endometriosis. Most women, especially older ones are taught that menstruating is not something you discuss with a man or anyone really. I’m 28 and I remember when I first got my period my mom drilled it into me to clean up every drop of blood ( which is understandable) but then she would make me wrap everything up in toilet paper until there was no trace of any menstruation products in the waste basket. Anything bloody I understood but even pad wrappers or the sticky paper from the pads had to be wrapped until it was no longer visible. My brother is 12 and his best friend is a girl. She told him that she got her first period. She was proud because her mom told her that it was something natural that all women get and that she was growing up. That made me really happy and I hope more people do that with their daughters.

    • Jess says:

      For me personally it was difficult to share because I was afraid he wouldn’t believe me or he would think I was weak. I’ve had painful periods since my very first cycle 22 years ago, but spent the first 10 years being told I couldn’t handle pain, or I was drug seeking, or it was in my head and I needed to toughen up. The fear of not being believed doesn’t go away. One doctor finally believed me and did the surgery and found so much scar tissue and damage it was unreal, I was supposed to infertile because of it, at age 24! I also grew up in a time where it was taboo to talk about your period, we were supposed to hide it and not make others uncomfortable by talking about it. I remember buying tampons at the store and hiding them underneath other items in my cart, it was seen as shameful for whatever reason. It’s ridiculous and I make sure to teach my daughter the opposite, my sister and I will yell to each other in public about needing a pad or tampon and watch the older generations horrified faces😄

  8. Jayna says:

    I hated her red hair the first time I saw it. I now like it on her after viewing these photos.

  9. Differentview says:

    For the people saying they don’t get not being able to share this type of issue with others I.e. yes you Jay, btw these type of comments really are harmful in making people feel they can’t tell their stories, if you want to tell yours let them tell there’s. There are massive taboos around periods and menstration. Pretending otherwise is pretending that the women who die in other countries because they are in seclusion die in vain. I know this is extreme but this is still happening!

    Your experience is not everyone’s. Open your mind, fight narrow mindedness and intolerance.

  10. Chloeee says:

    She looks gorgeous in the photo of the green jacket but I don’t like the styling from the VF event on her

  11. India Rose says:

    Once I figured out I had endometriosis, I was open with my future boyfriend-now-husband early on. Pain isn’t a sign of weakness (I keep reminding myself) and my God, the cramps were absolutely debilitating for years. I get how hard it is to tell other people, though. Calling in sick to work every month due to cramps isn’t easy — or even optional — in most jobs.

    I’ve had surgery twice to remove endometriosis tissue. For a couple years I was on vicodin, but opiods weren’t a healthy long-term solution.

    What finally resolved my pain was finding the right birth control pill. Under my doctor’s supervision, I take it straight through without the monthly placebo week, so I never get a period.

    But I have stomach pain from years of taking large doses of ibuprofen. I can’t eat spicy food, drink alcohol or take ibuprofen any more. Tomatoes, coffee and other acidic foods can upset my stomach even though I take zantac and nexium daily.

    If my endometriosis had been diagnosed sooner, maybe I could have avoided all the stomach damage. If anyone has experience with healing ibuprofen/NSAID stomach issues, I’d love to hear your suggestions!

    • Davy says:

      Healing gut lining from NSAID can take time. I also have a pain disorder. Things that have helped me: drinking aloe (it’s gross), GI-Revive (has lots of demulcent herbs like marshmallow, aloe, slippery elm etc which coat the gut lining), super high dose probiotics (short term, Genestra has great options), high dose CBD low dose THC tinctures (if you can access medicinal cannabis). But like anything, eating healthy food (loads of fruits & veggies & well sourced meat) and making sure you get enough water soluble fibre (maybe supplement with oat bran or psyllium husk), plus exercise, sleep quality, orgasm quality, social connections and keeping nervous system stress low are all crucial. I’m very sorry you had to be put through all this, remember the body is extremely resilient so don’t lose hope!

      • Liz says:

        Check out the Paleo Approach or AIP diet, it’s a short term diet to heal the gut. I’m using it after years of damage relating to endo. There’s a blog called Heal Endo that is really informative about the link between endo and gut health, too. Good luck!

  12. Cee says:

    I am so LUCKY I only get mild period pains. Like, I only suffer the first day and I can manage it with some ibuprofen, making the pain a bit subdued (I’m not on the pill). Reading a lot of Celebitchy posters’ stories had made me appreciate the little pain I get (which I used to complain a lot about – that stops NOW).

    Ladies, do not suffer in silence. Pain is not a weakness. Use all the support at hand to get through it.

  13. Laura Dawe says:

    I have severe endometriosis as well as ovarian cysts. I am on birth control in order to avoid having my period, which is nice because my period was hell. I am also infertile due to these conditions. Being infertile is sad and sometimes really hard to deal with – my ex husband cheated on me with a younger woman whom he later married and they’re now expecting a baby – but life is unfair and difficult, right? I applaud all women who share their stories about gynecological issues. There’s no shame in having endometriosis and I hope that there will be a cute for it one day.

  14. Liz says:

    Just wanted to say that ablation should never be used to remove endo. Excision is the gold standard. Ablation causes the endo cells to spread, worsening the disease.