Documentary suggests endometriosis impacted Marilyn Monroe's life and career

Marilyn Monroe, long celebrated as a Hollywood icon, may have had a significant part of her life story overshadowed by a chronic and painful illness that remained largely invisible: endometriosis. A new documentary, "End of the Cycle," proposes that many of the episodes contributing to the image of Monroe as a "difficult" or unstable individual could be explained, at least in part, by this condition.

Endometriosis, a disease where tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causes inflammation, severe pain, and often infertility. Affecting an estimated 200 million people globally, it is still incurable and challenging to diagnose, typically requiring surgery for confirmation. The film's co-director, Sammy Jaye, herself an endometriosis patient, asserts that the widely circulated image of Monroe is inaccurate. "The image that has been projected of her all these years is not accurate," Jaye stated during a special screening.

Jaye emphasized that Monroe endured her illness during an era with little public discussion about female reproductive health, let alone a condition as poorly understood as endometriosis. Without social media, awareness movements, or readily available medical tools, the actress reportedly faced her suffering in isolation. The documentary suggests that Monroe's reproductive difficulties, including several miscarriages and her expressed desire to become a mother, might have been directly linked to the progression of the disease.

Anthony Summers, author of the 1985 biography "Goddess: The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe," has corroborated the potential impact of the disease on Monroe's life. The film aims to re-evaluate Monroe's legacy by considering the profound physical and emotional toll of endometriosis, offering a more complete and empathetic understanding of her struggles and her enduring place in cultural history.

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The image that has been projected of her all these years is not accurate.