Lena Dunham took to social media Monday to let her fans know that she will not be taking part in the "Girls" Season 5 press tour due to health issues.
"I just wanted to let you know that, while I am so excited for 'Girls' to return on Feb 21, I won't be out and about doing press for the new season. As many of you know I have endometriosis, a chronic condition that affects approximately 1 in 10 women's reproductive health," she captioned a photo of what appears to be her hand on a blanket. "I am currently going through a rough patch with the illness and my body (along with my amazing doctors) let me know, in no uncertain terms, that it's time to rest."
She went on to explain how hard this is for her to do, especially since she wants "to make season six of 'Girls' the best one yet," but thanked her co-stars and executive producers Judd Apatow and Jenni Konner for their love and support. Dunham stars in the Emmy-winning HBO comedy alongside Allison Williams, Jemima Kirke, Zosia Mamet, Adam Driver and Alex Karpovsky.
"So many women with this disease literally don't have the option of time off and I won't take it for granted," she concluded. "Wishing you all health & happiness, in whatever form suits you."
The 29-year-old actress recently opened up about endometriosis in an essay for her newsletter Lenny Letter titled "The Sickest Girl." In the essay, she described the painful symptoms that have her in the fetal position taking painkillers, and the moment she first knew at a young age that she had this chronic condition.
"From the first time I got my period, it didn't feel right," she wrote. "The stomachaches began quickly and were more severe than the mild-irritant cramps seemed to be for the blonde women in pink-hued Midol commercials. Those might as well have been ads for yogurt or the ocean, that's how little they conveyed my experience of menstruating."
She went on to explain everything that went on throughout her life because of this condition and concluded the piece by writing: "Endometriosis is not life-threatening" and "I am strong because of what I've dealt with."
Tune in to Season 5 of "Girls" when it premieres on HBO Sunday, Feb. 21, at 10 p.m. ET.
