Bindi Irwin shares hospital photo and 10-year battle with endometriosis on Instagram

In her latest Instagram post, Bindi Irwin shares for the first time that she’s been battling endometriosis for more than 10 years—and recently underwent a surgical procedure to help alleviate painful symptoms.

“I battled for a long time wondering if I should share this journey with you in such a public space. It came down to the responsibility I feel to share my story for other women who need help,” Irwin begins the long caption to her post.

She explains that for more than a decade, she’s struggled with “insurmountable fatigue, pain & nausea.” Many tests and doctor visits concluded with one doctor basically telling her to suck it up because it’s just “something you deal with as a woman.” Which is, unfortunately, a common tale for women even now in medical spaces. She says she “gave up entirely” and just tried to live with the pain.

Until she couldn’t do it anymore.

Related: Amy Schumer has uterus and appendix removed due to severe endometriosis

“I decided to undergo surgery for endometriosis,” she writes. “Going in for surgery was scary but I knew I couldn’t live like I was. Every part of my life was getting torn apart because of the pain. To cut a long story short, they found 37 lesions, some very deep & difficult to remove, & a chocolate cyst.”

Endometriomas are cystic lesions that stem from the disease process of endometriosis. Endometriomas are most commonly found in the ovaries. They are filled with dark brown endometrial fluid and are sometimes referred to as “chocolate cysts.” The presence of endometriomas indicates a more severe stage of endometriosis.

The surgeon’s first words to her post-surgery were, “How did you live with this much pain?” And honestly, it’s just so heartbreaking to think of Bindi and all the other women who have suffered and continue to suffer simply because we’re expected to.

“Validation for years of pain is indescribable,” she says.

Related: A new gene identified for endometriosis may lead to a more effective and less invasive way to treat it

Endometriosis is an inflammatory, estrogen-dependent condition in which endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus, and is often associated with high levels of pelvic pain and fertility challenges. Painkillers and hormonal contraceptives are typically used in an effort to manage the pain, and surgery as well, though its benefit is often temporary. Endometriosis affects approximately one in 10 American women, but women can go years without being diagnosed because some assume it’s just par for the course when it comes to menstruation.

Bindi shares her gratitude toward the medical staff who believed she was in pain, and assures fans that she’s on the road to recovery.

“Things may look fine on the outside looking in through the window of someone’s life, however, that is not always the case,” she reminds us. “Please be gentle & pause before asking me (or any woman) when we’ll be having more children. After all that my body has gone through, I feel tremendously grateful that we have our gorgeous daughter. She feels like our family’s miracle.”

She ends her post giving a shout-out to the millions of women who also struggle the way she has, and acknowledges the fact that, like many conditions that primarily affect women, there is a stigma surrounding endometriosis.

“I’m sharing my story for anyone who reads this & is quietly dealing with pain & no answers. Let this be your validation that your pain is real & you deserve help. Keep searching for answers.”