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Lori Harvey Opens Up About PCOS, Endometriosis, and the Silent Struggle Black Women Face in Healthcare
- Crystal Jordan
- Sep 18
- 4 min read
By Crystal Jordan
Auesomely You Magazine
Published: 9/18/2025
Pillar Focus: Disease Awareness
When Lori Harvey sat down with the She MD Podcast, the glamorous model and actress wasn’t there to talk about red carpets or fashion campaigns. She came to talk about pain. The kind of pain that far too many women, especially Black women, are told is “normal.”
For years, Lori lived with excruciating periods, debilitating cramps, dramatic weight fluctuations, and unexplained acne breakouts. “Every single month, I felt like I needed to go to the hospital,” she recalled. “I’d take 800 milligrams of ibuprofen and nothing worked. Doctors kept telling me I was fine. But I knew I wasn’t.”
It wasn’t until she met renowned OBGYN Dr. Thais Aliabadi—through a referral from her mother—that Lori finally received the answers she had been begging for: diagnoses of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis.
“Babe, you’re right. This is not normal,” Dr. Aliabadi told her. And in that moment, Lori’s life changed.
Why This Conversation Matters
PCOS and endometriosis are two of the leading causes of infertility in women. They affect millions globally, yet both are still underdiagnosed, misunderstood, and often dismissed by medical professionals.
For Black women, the crisis is even more urgent. Research shows we are less likely to be taken seriously when reporting pain, and more likely to have our symptoms brushed off as exaggeration or “just stress.”
Lori’s story echoes what so many of us experience: being gaslit in exam rooms, questioning our own bodies, and suffering in silence. Her willingness to speak up breaks through that silence.
The Silent Epidemic
As Dr. Aliabadi explained, PCOS isn’t just about irregular periods. It’s a complex condition that involves:
Hormonal imbalance (too much testosterone, irregular ovulation)
Insulin resistance (leading to stubborn weight gain and fatigue)
Chronic inflammation (causing widespread pain and long-term risks)
Gut health issues (leaky gut, bloating, and more)
“I kept being told I was fine. But I didn’t feel fine. I knew something was off in my body.” – Lori Harvey
“Babe, you’re right. This is not normal. I’m so sorry people told you to just live with it.” – Dr. Thais Aliabadi
Endometriosis, often intertwined with PCOS, is equally devastating. Tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causing unbearable pain, cysts, and fertility struggles. For Lori, it meant emergency surgery to remove a massive ovarian cyst—one that could have destroyed her fertility if left untreated.
“These diseases aren’t just painful,” Dr. Aliabadi emphasized. “They’re life-altering. They shape women’s relationships with food, exercise, and even themselves. And too often, no one is listening.”
“For years, I thought excruciating pain was just part of being a woman.” – Lori Harvey
Breaking the Stigma
For Lori, receiving proper treatment was transformative. Metformin balanced her blood sugar. An anti-inflammatory lifestyle calmed her body. And most importantly, she finally felt at home in her own skin.
“I’ve never felt more comfortable in my body than I do now,” she shared.
Her openness chips away at the shame surrounding PCOS and endometriosis. Shame around weight gain. Shame around acne. Shame around fertility. A shame that silences countless women from seeking help.
By stepping forward, Lori shows us what advocacy looks like when personal stories meet public platforms.
“Once I started treatment, I finally felt at home in my body for the first time since I was 16.” – Lori Harvey
Why Auesomely You Magazine Is Covering This
At Auesomely You Magazine, our mission is clear: to blend pop culture with advocacy in ways that push conversations forward. Lori Harvey’s transparency is more than celebrity news—it’s an act of resistance against a healthcare system that has historically failed women, especially women of color.
We spotlight this episode not just because it’s trending, but because it embodies one of our seven pillars: Disease Awareness. Black women with PCOS deserve to be heard. We deserve validation, answers, and care that honors our voices.
A Call to Action
If you are experiencing symptoms painful periods, unexplained weight changes, infertility struggles, acne, or hair growth—please don’t dismiss them. Don’t let anyone tell you it’s “normal.” Push for answers. Seek second opinions. Advocate for yourself.
And to our community of readers: share this story. Normalize these conversations in your circles. Let’s remove the shame and replace it with solidarity, education, and support.
Because as Lori’s story reminds us our pain is real, our health matters, and our voices must be heard.
“Our voices matter. Our pain matters. We can’t normalize suffering in silence anymore.” – Lori Harvey
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