Kendrick Lamar Dancer, Storm DeBarge, Reveals She Has Endometriosis — 5 Things To Know About The Disease

Storm DeBarge’s name has gained a lot of attention since starring as a main dancer in Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” music video. But the LA native is going viral for something way more serious than her dance moves.

On Dec. 14, she was a guest on the Jst Us podcast where she opened up about having endometriosis and how she has to deal with it “every month.”

Storm DeBarge attends the Special Red Carpet Screening for New Line Cinema’s “House Party” at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres on January 11, 2023 in Hollywood, California. Source: Matt Winkelmeyer / Getty

DeBarge detailed how the condition has been invasive in her personal life and professional life. She said it, “takes away a lot of time in my month. Like if I have something booked, or I have to teach or do these things, those seven days out the [month] I have to be like ‘uh uh.’ I have to stay at home.’”

She continued, “Usually people are there with me taking care of me helping me and things like that. But it’s definitely hard. I’ve been dealing with that since I was 9 years old. I was hospitalized like a lot of high school for it.”

DeBarge later explained how she’s looking forward to getting a new doctor in 2025 after having some bad experiences and dealing with disparities with her former doctors. She said, “Yea they don’t really care about us in the medical field like that especially when you don’t have the best insurance.”

Here are five things to know about endometriosis.

1. What Is It Exactly

There is endometrial tissue that grows on the lining of the uterus. When endometriosis occurs, there is tissue similar to the endometrial tissue that grows on the outside of the uterus as well. The condition leads to inflammation and scarring around the pelvis or abdomen area. According to John Hopkins Medicine, the areas most commonly affected by endometriosis are the fallopian tubes, ovaries, outside surface of the uterus, lining of the pelvic cavity, ligaments around the uterus and the space between the uterus and the rectum or bladder.

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2. What Are the Symptoms

Symptoms of endometriosis may vary and DeBarge said, “you have chronic pain all through your body. You’re throwing up. You can’t eat. You’re nauseous. Head, back, legs like everything, just like hurting.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration reported that endometriosis can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, painful menstruation cramps, bowel movements and urination when menstruation is occurring. It can also cause pain during sex and in the lower abdomen area. Additionally, digestive problems can occur such as diarrhea, constipation, bloating, or nausea.

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Storm DeBarge attends the Juneteenth Festival Celebration hosted by Black on the Block at Los Angeles Center Studios on June 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Source: Kayla Oaddams / Getty

3. Who Does It Affect

Endometriosis affects 11% of American women in their reproductive age which ranges around 15 to 44. According to a 2022 study, Black women are 51% less likely to be diagnosed with endometriosis than white women. Hispanic women had similar results sitting at 54% least likely to be diagnosed with endometriosis than white women. However, Asian women were 63% more likely to be diagnosed with the condition.

Endometriosis usually takes about seven to 10 years to diagnose for anyone but could take even twice as long for Black women due to racial disparities in the health care system. To diagnose, doctors perform a laparoscopy where they make an incision in the abdomen and insert a light and camera so the doctor can see the uterus. Another way doctors check is by doing a biopsy.

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4. How to Manage It

There is no cure for endometriosis but there are certain steps you can take to help get through it. Since she’s been dealing with it for almost two decades, DeBarge told the hosts that she’s learning better ways to manage her condition for the seven days she has to endure it.

She said, “I think as I’m getting older I’m figuring how to deal with it better so I’ve changed my diet. Certain things you don’t do a week before. Just making sure you’re happy you’re not around stress or anything like that. Taking the tea seven days before my cycle starts and just doing the things.”

Healthline reported that higher rates of endometriosis were found in women who ate more foods that are high trans fat and had a high consumption for red meat. Studies also show that one should avoid foods that cause inflammation like alcohol, caffeine and gluten. Drinking things like green tea can help alleviate the symptoms of endometriosis.

There is also the option of taking hormonal medication like oral contraceptive or progestins to decrease or stop menstrual periods and the growth of endometriosis.

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5. Surgery

If those options are not sufficient and the medication does not work, patients can do surgery as a solution. One choice is to undergo a laparotomy. The procedure requires the doctor to make an incision in the abdomen area to remove the endometrial tissue. While this is an option, it is not common and could provide just short term relief.

Another course of action would be for doctors to do the laparoscopy and use small tools to either cut off the tissue or use heat to destroy it. However, like the laparotomy, this too has the potential of being just a short term option.

A third alternative would be to perform a hysterectomy. The procedure removes the entire uterus and should terminate the release of hormones and put a more permanent stop to endometriosis. However, the cons of this is it will cause the patient to go into menopause and it eliminates the option of becoming pregnant.

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Storm DeBarge Has Endometriosis — 5 Things To Know