Nisha Pandey

Emma Barnett Reveals She Had A Hysterectomy After Endometriosis Battle: What To Know About Adenomyosis

BBC presenter <span>Emma Barnett</span> has revealed that she underwent a hysterectomy after years of living with endometriosis and adenomyosis, saying she had the surgery she “never wanted to have” after her symptoms worsened with time.

Barnett, 41, was filming her BBC documentary <em>Fighting Endometriosis</em> when her health deteriorated. She eventually underwent a nearly five-hour operation involving <span>endometriosis surgery</span>, removal of her womb and <span>gallbladder surgery</span>. She was still recovering when the documentary aired in June.

She told listeners, "I made a programme on endometriosis on BBC Two and ended up being in hospital for endometriosis." She added, "Some 48 hours before the documentary aired - I had undergone a near-5 hour surgery and somehow found myself lying in bed recovering from extensive endometriosis surgery, a hysterectomy and a gallbladder removal," she wrote.

She has since returned to BBC Radio 4's <em>Today</em> programme and opened up about the physical and emotional toll of the procedure, including her recovery and adjustment to hormone replacement therapy.

"So yes, I've been recuperating, shall we say, from surgery for endometriosis and a hysterectomy to boot. So that's been less fun than the Today programme, but it is lovely to be back."

Barnett has lived with endometriosis for more than two decades. She also has adenomyosis, a condition she said she had come to suspect was responsible for much of her pain. 

<h2>Adenomyosis Affects Muscle Of The Womb</h2>

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/emma-barnett-it-took-21-years-to-diagnose-my-endometriosis-article-154447392" data-type="tilCustomLink">Emma Barnett: It Took 21 Years To Diagnose My Endometriosis</a>

Adenomyosis is a condition in which the tissue that normally lines the inside of the womb grows into the muscular wall of the uterus. The tissue continues to respond to <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/maternal-anemia-why-its-a-major-pregnancy-risk-for-indian-women-and-how-to-prevent-it-article-155691805" data-type="tilCustomLink">hormonal changes</a> during the menstrual cycle, which can cause the uterus to become enlarged and inflamed, leading to pain and heavy bleeding. 

Adenomyosis does not present with symptoms. When it does, heavy menstrual bleeding and painful periods are among the most common complaints. Some women may also face pelvic pain, bloating or a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, pain during sex and, in some cases, fertility issues. 

Even though the condition is different from endometriosis, the two can occur together. The symptoms can overlap with endometriosis, which can make it difficult to identify which condition is responsible for symptoms.

<h2>Treatment Depends On Symptoms And Reproduction Plans</h2>

Also read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-plans-to-freeze-eggs-as-she-eyes-2028-us-presidential-run-article-155522251" data-type="tilCustomLink">Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Plans To Freeze Eggs As She Eyes 2028 US Presidential Run</a>

Treatment for <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-news/national-infertility-awareness-week-2025-why-is-it-important-article-151456394" data-type="tilCustomLink">adenomyosis</a> generally focuses on controlling pain and heavy bleeding. Depending on the severity of symptoms, doctors may recommend anti-inflammatory painkillers, hormonal treatments like the contraceptive pill or hormonal intrauterine systems, or other medicines that suppress menstrual symptoms. 

For women who have completed their families and continue to experience severe symptoms despite other treatments, a hysterectomy may be considered.

A hysterectomy removes the uterus and, because adenomyosis exists within the uterine muscle, removing the uterus can cure adenomyosis. The NHS says it is generally considered when other treatments have failed and a woman does not want to have more children. However, a hysterectomy is major surgery and is not considered a first-line treatment.

While removing the uterus can cure adenomyosis, endometriosis occurs outside the uterus, meaning a hysterectomy does not necessarily eliminate all endometriosis.

Endometriosis lesions elsewhere in the body may remain and can continue to cause symptoms. Barnett therefore underwent <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/study-links-childhood-trauma-to-severe-uterine-disease-article-151946196" data-type="tilCustomLink">endometriosis surgery</a> alongside the hysterectomy. 

Barnett said her recovery has been lengthy and physically demanding. Around 11 weeks after the operation, she was still dealing with fatigue and the process of adjusting her hormones with HRT. 

<h2>A Documentary To Expose A Neglected Disease</h2>

‘This Is Endometriosis’ Wins 2026 BAFTA Award #shorts #endometriosis #bafta2026 #film #healthnews

Recognizing that many women experience similar struggles, Barnett made a new documentary film <em>"<a href="https://www.healthandme.com/fitness/yoga-asanas-for-menstrual-pain-relief-6-asanas-every-woman-should-try-to-ease-period-cramps-article-151028435" data-type="tilCustomLink">Emma Barnett: Fighting Endometriosis</a>" </em>in which she speaks with women, including doctors, researchers and even politicians about their experiences with endometriosis, highlighting a neglected disease that has no known cure.

Through the documentary, Barnett hopes to raise awareness of the condition, improve public understanding, and draw attention to the long delays many women face in receiving a diagnosis.

“One of the reasons I have made a film about endometriosis is that I want people to understand it is not just ‘painful periods’. It’s a system-wide inflammatory condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of it, causing agonizing pain. I am hoping to boost public understanding of that, and beyond merely being able to pronounce it,” she wrote in <em>The Independent</em>.

“It’s very hard to make something invisible visible, but what I am trying to do with this film is bring the invisible into light and show that this is a silent emergency.”

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BBC presenter Emma Barnett has revealed that she underwent a hysterectomy after years of living with endometriosis and adenomyosis, saying she had the surgery she “never wanted to have” after her symptoms worsened with time.Barnett, 41, was filming her BBC documentary Fighting Endometriosis when her health deteriorated. She eventually underwent a nearly five-hour operation involving endometriosis surgery, removal of her womb and gallbladder surgery. She was still recovering when the documentary aired in June.She told listeners, "I made a programme on endometriosis on BBC Two and ended up being in hospital for endometriosis." She added, "Some 48 hours before the documentary aired - I had undergone a near-5 hour surgery and somehow found myself lying in bed recovering from extensive endometriosis surgery, a hysterectomy and a gallbladder removal," she wrote.She has since returned to BBC Radio 4's Today programme and opened up about the physical and emotional toll of the procedure, including her recovery and adjustment to hormone replacement therapy."So yes, I've been recuperating, shall we say, from surgery for endometriosis and a hysterectomy to boot. So that's been less fun than the Today programme, but it is lovely to be back."Barnett has lived with endometriosis for more than two decades. She also has adenomyosis, a condition she said she had come to suspect was responsible for much of her pain. Adenomyosis Affects Muscle Of The WombAlso read: Emma Barnett: It Took 21 Years To Diagnose My EndometriosisAdenomyosis is a condition in which the tissue that normally lines the inside of the womb grows into the muscular wall of the uterus. The tissue continues to respond to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, which can cause the uterus to become enlarged and inflamed, leading to pain and heavy bleeding. Adenomyosis does not present with symptoms. When it does, heavy menstrual bleeding and painful periods are among the most common complaints. Some women may also face pelvic pain, bloating or a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen, pain during sex and, in some cases, fertility issues. Even though the condition is different from endometriosis, the two can occur together. The symptoms can overlap with endometriosis, which can make it difficult to identify which condition is responsible for symptoms.Treatment Depends On Symptoms And Reproduction PlansAlso read: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Plans To Freeze Eggs As She Eyes 2028 US Presidential RunTreatment for adenomyosis generally focuses on controlling pain and heavy bleeding. Depending on the severity of symptoms, doctors may recommend anti-inflammatory painkillers, hormonal treatments like the contraceptive pill or hormonal intrauterine systems, or other medicines that suppress menstrual symptoms. For women who have completed their families and continue to experience severe symptoms despite other treatments, a hysterectomy may be considered.A hysterectomy removes the uterus and, because adenomyosis exists within the uterine muscle, removing the uterus can cure adenomyosis. The NHS says it is generally considered when other treatments have failed and a woman does not want to have more children. However, a hysterectomy is major surgery and is not considered a first-line treatment.While removing the uterus can cure adenomyosis, endometriosis occurs outside the uterus, meaning a hysterectomy does not necessarily eliminate all endometriosis.Endometriosis lesions elsewhere in the body may remain and can continue to cause symptoms. Barnett therefore underwent endometriosis surgery alongside the hysterectomy. Barnett said her recovery has been lengthy and physically demanding. Around 11 weeks after the operation, she was still dealing with fatigue and the process of adjusting her hormones with HRT. A Documentary To Expose A Neglected Disease            Recognizing that many women experience similar struggles, Barnett made a new documentary film "Emma Barnett: Fighting Endometriosis" in which she speaks with women, including doctors, researchers and even politicians about their experiences with endometriosis, highlighting a neglected disease that has no known cure.Through the documentary, Barnett hopes to raise awareness of the condition, improve public understanding, and draw attention to the long delays many women face in receiving a diagnosis.“One of the reasons I have made a film about endometriosis is that I want people to understand it is not just ‘painful periods’. It’s a system-wide inflammatory condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of it, causing agonizing pain. I am hoping to boost public understanding of that, and beyond merely being able to pronounce it,” she wrote in The Independent.“It’s very hard to make something invisible visible, but what I am trying to do with this film is bring the invisible into light and show that this is a silent emergency.”

emma barnett reveals she had a hysterectomy after endometriosis battle: what to know about adenomyosis

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Emma Barnett Reveals She Had A Hysterectomy After Endometriosis Battle: What To Know About Adenomyosis

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