ESPN's Molly Qerim details her painful battle with endometriosis

ESPN anchor Molly Qerim, has candidly opened up about her painful battle with endometriosis.

Speaking to Good Morning America's Amy Robach, the 34-year-old revealed that she wanted to discuss her struggle with the painful health condition to help other women who are suffering from the disease so they 'feel like they're not alone.'

Endometriosis is a disease in which the lining of the uterus is found outside of the uterus in other parts of the body, leading to painful periods and intercourse, infertility or digestive problems.

Open: ESPN anchor Molly Qerim, 34, has opened up about her painful battle with endometriosis, a female disease where the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus

Not alone: Speaking to Good Morning America 's Amy Robach, Molly revealed that she wanted to discuss her struggle with the painful health condition to help other women

Severe: Molly who hosts ESPN's First Take explained that her condition is severe and the endometriosis had spread from her reproductive organs to her liver and intestines

In severe cases the tissue can attach itself to other internal organs like the liver, kidney, appendix or lungs. 

Molly, who was diagnosed seven years ago, explained that her condition has grown increasingly severe, revealing that her endometriosis has spread from her reproductive organs to her liver and intestines.

'It had all compiled into a cyst, which burst,' she explained. 'And then the toxins were all in my body.' 

The TV star who started dating former NBA star and current ESPN analyst Jalen Rose, 45, in 2016, was prescribed the medication Lurpon to treat her condition, however she quickly started experiencing a host of horrible side effects.

'I was getting injections into my back, which was awesome,' she joked. 'Pain is just running down your leg.'

'It put my body into menopause,' she added. 'I gained a lot of weight. I didn't feel myself: mentally, emotionally, physically.' 

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Severe: Diagnosed seven years ago, Molly explained that her condition is severe and the endometriosis had spread from her reproductive organs to her liver and intestines

Treatment: Prescribed Lurpon to help manage her condition, Molly shared that she stopped taking it as it made her body go into early menopause and led to weight gain 

Alternative: She now used acupuncture to manage her pain and has also transformed her diet, eliminating sugar, alcohol and processed foods 

It was at that point that Molly turned to Eastern medicine to try and manage her pain and calls acupuncture, a traditional Chinese medicine, her 'saving grace'. 

Acupuncturist Dr Amy Duong explained that Molly gets treatment on her feet to deal with hormonal imbalances, and her stomach to help manage her pain.

Molly has also changed her diet, cutting out all sugar, alcohol and processed foods, but she is yet to give up caffeine, blaming her early morning schedule for her reluctance to kick the habit entirely.

'I'm on in the morning,' she the First Take host quipped.

And it's this honestly that is at the forefront of her message.

'If I can connect with some other people and help them feel like they're not alone, we can fight through this,' she said.

'And then, hopefully in next couple generations ... they're going to have the right treatments,' she added. 

'And this will no longer be an issue.' 

WHAT IS ENDOMETRIOSIS?

Endometriosis occurs when cells in the lining of the uterus are found elsewhere in the body. 

Each month, these cells react in the same way as those in the uterus; building up, breaking down and bleeding. Yet, the blood has no way to escape the body.

Symptoms include pain, heavy periods and fatigue, as well as a higher risk of infertility, and bowel and bladder problems.

Its cause is unknown but may be genetic, related to problems with the immune system or exposure to chemicals.

Treatment focuses on pain relief and improving quality of life, which may include surgery or hormone treatment.

Source: Endometriosis UK

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