Emma Barnett reveals she 'had the hysterectomy I never wanted to have'

BBC presenter Emma Barnett has disclosed that she underwent a hysterectomy and surgery for endometriosis shortly after her documentary on the condition was broadcast. Barnett, 41, returned to Radio 4’s Today programme on Wednesday morning after several weeks away owing to a hospital stay for endometriosis surgery, a hysterectomy and a gallbladder removal. She told listeners, “I made a programme on endometriosis on BBC Two and ended up being in hospital for endometriosis.” She added, “So yes, I've been recuperating, shall we say, from surgery for endometriosis and a hysterectomy to boot. So that's been little amusive than the Today programme, but it is beauteous to be back.” The announcement followed the publication of her Substack blog titled “I had the hysterectomy I never wanted to have.” Barnett noted that roughly 48 hours before the documentary aired in June she had undergone a near‑5‑hour procedure that included extended endometriosis surgery, a hysterectomy and gallbladder removal. She wrote, “Some 48 hours earlier the documentary aired - I had undergone a near-5 hr surgery and somehow recovered myself lying in bed recovering from extended endometriosis surgery, a hysterectomy and a gallbladder removal.” She characterised the experience as a “triple threat” and remarked, “Triple threat. Go large or go home. Life imitating art.” Reflecting on the timing, Barnett said, “I felt blind-sided and robbed, even though my care had been superb and doctors, utterly brilliant.” She continued, “But this was not the road I had envisioned for myself. I had the hysterectomy I never wanted to have.” Endometriosis, a condition in which uterine‑like tissue grows elsewhere in the body, causes what Barnett has described as “bone‑grinding, life‑altering pain.” It affects one in ten women and has no known cure. A hysterectomy, the surgical removal of the uterus, can lower the risk of recurrence when performed alongside endometriosis excision, according to Endometriosis UK. In her blog Barnett also suggested that adenomyosis, a related condition treatable by hysterectomy, might have contributed to her symptoms. She explained that an ultrasound conducted during the final filming of her documentary revealed a gallbladder issue, making further intervention urgent and non‑negotiable. Barnett expressed hope that the surgery had alleviated her pain, stating, “Early indications are that the pain is very much improved - though I am still healing from the surgery itself so that also feels uncertain and frightening to admit - even to myself.”