Kate Mansi Reveals Terrifying Health Crisis That Led To Her Endometriosis Diagnosis

Kate Mansi/ABC

Actress Kate Mansi is opening up about a frightening health crisis that ultimately led to a life-changing diagnosis.

Kate Mansi Reveals Terrifying Health Crisis That Led To Her Endometriosis Diagnosis

The 38-year-old General Hospital star recently spoke with People about her deeply personal experience with Endometriosis, a reproductive condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. The disorder can cause severe cramping, chronic pain, heavy bleeding, and other debilitating symptoms.

A Medical Mystery That Escalated Quickly

Mansi revealed that her ordeal began back in 2015 when she suddenly started experiencing alarming symptoms, including severe abdominal pain, heavy bleeding, nausea, and noticeable stomach swelling.

Despite the seriousness of her condition, she says doctors initially dismissed her concerns.

“It had been going on for a couple days and doctors just kept dismissing it,” Mansi recalled.

Over the course of four days, the actress repeatedly sought medical help while continuing to work through intense pain.“I think as a society we are so ingrained to just listen to what the doctors say and abandon what we feel,” Mansi explained. “I went into these appointments and they said, ‘Oh, maybe the pain is because your IUD is turning.’ Then they checked with an ultrasound — it wasn’t my IUD.”

Doctors suggested other possible explanations as well.

“Maybe it's just a bad period,” they told her. As her condition worsened, she began experiencing severe nausea and vomiting. Some doctors even suggested she might simply have the flu. But Mansi knew something was seriously wrong.

A Shocking Discovery

After several days of worsening symptoms, Mansi’s mother and her stepfather — who is an OB-GYN — met her at the hospital. Further testing and scans revealed a shocking discovery: an 11-centimeter mass in her abdomen.

Doctors initially feared the worst and called in an oncologist, suspecting the mass might be cancerous.

However, Mansi’s stepfather believed immediate action was necessary.

“My stepdad was so frustrated,” she recalled. “Because he's my stepfather and not a blood relation, he scrubbed in himself and said, ‘I’m not waiting for an oncologist. I'm going to do the surgery or she’s not going to make it.’”

His decision proved critical.

The Life-Saving Surgery

During surgery, doctors discovered that an ovarian cyst had burst directly on top of a blood vessel. “The ovarian cyst coincidentally was sitting on top of a blood vessel,” Mansi explained. “So when it burst, it hit the blood vessel and leaked a liter and a half of blood into my abdomen.”

The blood had coagulated into the large mass seen on scans, cutting off blood and oxygen inside her abdomen. Her stepfather successfully removed the mass, stopping the internal bleeding and ultimately saving her life. During the procedure, doctors also discovered extensive endometriotic tissue, finally giving Mansi answers for the pain she had been experiencing.

A Diagnosis That Changed Everything

Looking back, Mansi says the entire experience was terrifying — but it also provided clarity. The surgery ultimately led to her diagnosis of endometriosis, a condition that affects millions of women but is often misunderstood or misdiagnosed.

Mansi now hopes that by sharing her story, she can help raise awareness and encourage others to trust their instincts when something feels wrong.

Her message is simple but powerful: listen to your body and advocate for your health.