Bindi Irwin shares details of difficult endometriosis journey

Bindi Irwin has shared new details of her difficult endometriosis journey.

The wildlife conservationist described the "inescapable pain" of her condition in a heartfelt social-media post.

Accompanying photos of herself lying in hospital beds, Bindi's post, shared on 30 March, explained she had numerous lesions removed and spoke of the difficulty of managing an "invisible illness".

"In the last three years, I've had over 50 endometriosis lesions cut out of my body," the 27-year-old mother of one wrote.

"A chocolate cyst that was adhering my ovary to my side was removed. An appendectomy and a hernia repair. I've felt indescribable, inescapable pain. Trying to keep my invisible illness to myself after being told by doctors it was just 'part of being a woman'."

She added the struggles of having the condition treated had come after a decade of asking doctors what was wrong.

"I spent 10 years being undiagnosed," Bindi continued. "As a teenager and young woman, I felt weak and deeply insecure. I was trapped in my own body."

The World Health Organisation describes endometriosis as a "chronic and often painful" condition in which "endometrium-like tissue (usually found only in the lining of the uterus) grows outside the uterus, causing inflammation and scar tissue formation".

Bindi's post concluded with a call for her followers to raise awareness and support the "millions" of women living with the disease.

"March is endometriosis awareness month," she wrote. "As this month comes to a close, I urge everyone to remember this invisible disease each and every day. To lend support, compassion and grace towards the millions who suffer.

"It's up to all of us to raise awareness, not just for endometriosis but for women's health as a whole. No one deserves to suffer in silence."