It is almost noon, this Friday, November 4, when Laetitia Milot joins us in the auditorium of the Diaconnesses Croix Saint Simon hospital (Paris, 12th). The one that the general public has discovered - and adopted - as Mélanie in the hit series Plus belle la vie , has just hosted two conferences on the occasion of the 3rd national day against infertility .

Godmother of the event on the initiative of the magazine Famili magicmaman and the association Maïa, the young woman aged 36 just spent several hours to tell, not of her ascent on the small screen, but her journey as a patient .

"Unsustainable" and repeated pains at the time of menstruation

Reaching endometriosis, a gynecological disease still too poorly known that can lead to infertility, the actress has indeed decided to use its popularity to advance the cause. "After revealing my difficulties in having a child during an interview, I received hundreds of letters and messages from women who explained to me their journey and their suffering due to the disease," recalls this solar brunette bright Eyes.

"Some have endured daily pain for years, others have seen their couple destroy themselves gradually. It was the click. I wanted to move for them, to break the taboo. "

Diagnosed at the age of 27, after almost four years of "unsustainable" intimate pain, Laetitia Milot discovers endometriosis, a disease characterized by the migration of endometrial cells outside the uterus. In some cases, such as his, these cells will implant deeply on different organs, causing bleeding and therefore severe pain at the time of menstruation .

A long diagnosis, a badly identified disease

"First, I was not believed," says the young woman. Followed by a first gynecologist who assures him that his suffering at the time of menstruation is completely 'normal', she consults another doctor. "Again, I was made to understand that I was a bit of a jerk. To ease the pain, I was offered to change pill. I did not see any results. "

Pugnace and especially persuaded that something is wrong, the actress makes an appointment with a third expert, which prescribes "finally! A whole series of exams. "When the gynecologist called me to confirm that the pains were not in my head but that they were due to endometriosis , I was so relieved! At least I knew what I had. "Immediately put on treatment, heroin Mistral sees its symptoms decline quickly.

"I was told that having a baby would be a fight"

In parallel, married and well settled, Laëtitia Milot and her spouse Badri are now planning family. The desire of a baby is there but it supposes the stop of the treatment. "The pain, intense, came back. I had to pass new exams that took me directly to the operating table to remove several nodules. Unfortunately, they are quickly back. "This is the whole problem of this disease that acts like a cancer , even if it is not fatal," says the young woman meanwhile became godmother of the association EndoFrance.

A pathology called benign, but with consequences on the fertility of 30 to 40% of patients. "At the time of the diagnosis, I was immediately told that doing a baby naturally would be a fight. We have not abandoned to date, even if we also consider IVF and adoption, "says the young woman who testifies, with other patients, in his book The baby, when is it? (Michel Lafon)

Better inform and advance research

The one that is said today "positive" and especially "well followed" Rouen University Hospital now wants to share as much as possible its experience to inform, "especially young girls, affected earlier and earlier without the we know why, "but also to advance research. "If my notoriety can contribute to all this, that's good. "

And to add, to the address of all women: "The pain is not normal. Not being listened to by his doctor is not. Above all, never get used to pain. "